UVAC Innovation Exchange

UVAC invites you to an inspiring and high-impact Innovation Exchange bringing together leading voices from education, industry, research, policy and the wider technical skills ecosystem at the UK’s flagship offshore renewable energy innovation centre — the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult in Blyth.

The ORE Catapult is the UK’s leading technology and research centre for offshore renewable energy, with a mission to deliver the UK’s largest clean growth opportunity by accelerating the creation and growth of UK companies in offshore renewable energy.

Together, we will explore how curiosity-driven research, workforce foresighting, and collaborative partnerships are shaping the future of technical, vocational and professional education across the UK — and how inclusive approaches to talent development can strengthen skills, drive innovation, and support sustainable economic growth.

This Innovation Exchange will examine how we can build a future-ready workforce equipped to meet evolving industry needs while helping to realise the UK’s clean energy targets and Net Zero ambitions — contributing to a greener, fairer and more prosperous future for all.

Innovation in action

Working in partnership with the North East Institute of Technology and the ORE Catapult, UVAC will convene universities, further and higher technical education providers, employers and sector stakeholders to explore how cutting-edge offshore renewable technologies are advancing UK strategic priorities and enabling a more sustainable future.

Discover how ideas become impact across the innovation and skills value chain through real-world examples including:

• Turbine blade testing to improve efficiency and reliability 

• Robotics, automation and autonomous systems transforming offshore wind operations 

• Artificial intelligence technologies improving infrastructure maintenance and performance 

• Emerging floating offshore wind technologies opening access to deeper waters 

• Circular economy approaches supporting sustainable turbine decommissioning 

• Marine energy innovation driving renewable energy resilience and infrastructure sustainability 

Why this matters

The UK’s rapidly evolving skills landscape presents both challenge and opportunity.

The engineering sector alone faces a projected shortfall of up to 1 million engineers by 2030, driven by retirement, skills mismatches and persistent diversity gaps. At the same time, significant talent across genders, socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, religions and beliefs remains underrepresented across STEM and wider priority growth sectors.

Industry demand for diverse talent continues to grow because inclusion drives innovation, productivity and sustainable economic growth.

UVAC’s Innovation Exchange is a dynamic in-person event exploring how to widen participation, strengthen engagement and co-develop inclusive pathways that build a strong, future-focused talent pipeline across all ages, levels and sectors — supporting the UK Government’s ambitions for post-16 reform, skills-led productivity, competitiveness and Net Zero growth.

Building capability and capacity across universities and further and higher technical education providers is essential to delivering sustainable economic growth and long-term workforce resilience.

What to expect

Thought-provoking keynote speakers

Hear from national leaders across education, industry, research and development, policy and the wider skills landscape.

Practical insights and real-world approaches

Explore effective strategies, collaborative models, emerging practice, tools and resources that support innovation, workforce development and skills excellence.

At the Innovation Exchange you will:

• Explore how curiosity-driven research accelerates innovation in offshore renewable clean energy through real-world application examples supporting Net Zero ambitions 

• Identify emerging workforce needs across this critical UK growth sector and consider opportunities for your organisation through people, place and partnership working 

• Discover approaches that strengthen capability, quality and innovation in further and higher technical education, training and workforce development 

• Connect with colleagues, employers, sector leaders and stakeholders committed to shaping the future workforce 

Experience innovation first-hand

Exclusive ORE Catapult Site Tour

As part of the Innovation Exchange, delegates are invited to take part in a guided ORE Catapult tour showcasing cutting-edge innovation in offshore wind, floating technologies and robotics.

Experience:

• World-leading turbine blade test facilities 

• Autonomous inspection robotics 

• Digital control rooms creating virtual twins of wind farms 

• Advanced technologies accelerating Net Zero innovation 

See first-hand how breakthrough ideas move from research and development into real-world impact.

Be part of the future

Join colleagues, innovators and sector leaders for a powerful day of insight, collaboration and inspiration as we explore how clean energy innovation and skills excellence can create a brighter, greener and more inclusive future.

Curious? Join us and be part of the conversation shaping tomorrow’s workforce, innovation and energy landscape.  Register today!

View the agenda