SPONSORED BY MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE GROUP
TRAINING &
APPRENTICESHIPS
Middlesbrough College principal and chief executive Zoe Lewis( right) presented the Training and Apprenticeships award to SeAH Wind HR manager Matthew Hart and talent acquisition partner Karen Maclane.
WINNER
SeAH WIND
It’ s helping bring the wind of change to Teesside – but Tees Business Awardswinner SeAH Wind hopes its apprentices will ensure it remains here for years to come.
The first major employer on the Teesworks site, where it’ s creating a huge wind turbine monopile factory, SeAH has so far employed around a quarter of its projected 750-strong Teesside workforce.
Of those, 32 are apprentices – and it’ s that approach which earned the Korean firm the Training and Apprenticeships Award at the 2025 Tees Business Awards.
The award – one of 11 handed out at the Hardwick Hall Hotel event – was picked up by HR manager Matthew Hart and talent acquisition partner Karen Maclane after SeAH Wind pipped Sembcorp and Alt Labs to the honour.
And Matthew, who received the award from the CEO and principal of category sponsor Middlesbrough College, Zoe Lewis CBE, said SeAH was“ absolutely delighted” to win it.
He said:“ The work we’ re doing in terms of building for the future and creating new talent is vital, not just for our business, but for the area – and we’ re really honoured to be collecting this.
“ We currently have 32 apprentices, plus another 30 individuals who have come through training programmes. Eventually we’ ll have 750 employees – it’ s all about creating that future and creating that feedstock of really good talent. Of all our employees, 95 % are based within the North-East and the Tees Valley and we are very passionate about that.
“ As with setting up any new business, there’ ve been a few challenges but we’ re grateful for all the support we’ ve had from the TVCA, the mayor and from our strategic partners such as Hartlepool College, Middlesbrough College, Nordic, NETA and the Etc.”
Karen added:“ There’ s a bit of a gap in terms of apprenticeship provision, so it’ s about trying to bridge that skills shortage. The apprenticeships and upskilling programmes were among the first things we thought about in terms of the strategic direction the business needs to take.”
Matthew said the young apprentices were“ fantastic”, adding:“ It restores your faith in young people because we’ ve got some really good, ambitious young people who are demonstrating a real desire and ability to want to achieve a career in fabrication and welding.”
FINALIST ALT LABS
Through its flagship Tees Valley Labs programme, Middlesbrough-based digital innovation consultancy Alt Labs has provided scores of local entrepreneurs with mentorship, tailored training and access to a collaborative ecosystem.
By delivering business support workshops across the region, which offer foundational skills in business development and entrepreneurship, and by fostering connections between startups, investors and regional stakeholders, it has played a pivotal role in strengthening the Tees Valley’ s entrepreneurial landscape, with programmes that have supported participants in creating scalable, sustainable businesses.
Through its commitment to mentorship, community engagement and training, Alt Labs continues to drive meaningful impact across the region.
FINALIST SEMBCORP
A leading global provider of sustainable solutions driving the energy transition to net zero, Sembcorp believes in“ growing its own” so its people reach their full potential. More than a third of its Wilton site shift operations team are former apprentices and many managers, up to a very senior level, also started with Sembcorp as apprentices – a policy that enables the firm to keep developing knowledge and skills.
Indeed, apprenticeships are a key part of its wider training programme, giving people onthe-job training and the chance to learn directly from their colleagues.
Although this requires significant investment, Sembcorp takes a strategic, long-term view, seeing it as key to its future business success and the success of the region.
SPONSOR’ S REFLECTIONS:
Zoe Lewis, principal and chief executive, Middlesbrough College Group:“ All the companies tonight do everything – work experience, apprenticeships, skills bootcamps, sending their staff on night classes, developing their managers, guest lecturing, sponsoring scholars... they are just doing everything, so as advocates for skills and training, we couldn’ t have had a better shortlist. And to see SeAH come to the area and show that commitment from day one has been fantastic.”
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