National Grid joins Northern Powerhouse Partnership to support investment, skills, jobs and supply chain growth across the North

National Grid has joined the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP), reinforcing its commitment to driving economic growth, jobs and skills across the North of England through a major programme of energy infrastructure investment. 

The announcement was formally marked yesterday (26 November) at National Grid’s Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) converter station visitor centre at Wren Hall, recently officially opened by Kier Mather MP. Also attending the event were David Skaith, Metro Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and Baroness Julie Elliott, Chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, alongside Alex Kaufman, Director of Land, Planning and External Affairs at National Grid, and EGL2 Project Director, Neil Lyons. 

As part of The Great Grid Upgrade, National Grid is making significant investments in the North to help deliver the secure, home-grown power network Britain needs. Key projects include such as Eastern Green Link 1 and 2, Yorkshire Green and proposed developments like the Cross Border Connection and North Humber to High Marnham. Altogether, National Grid’s network investment is expected to support up to 55,000 jobs across the UK by 2030, with a significant share of employment generated in the North. 

Jobs and supply chain opportunities for the North 

This investment is already creating a significant economic boost for northern communities: 

• On EGL2, construction partner BAM is creating around 200 jobs, including apprenticeships and highly skilled engineering roles. 

• A series of ‘meet the buyer’ events for EGL1 and EGL2 has connected hundreds of northern SMEs with new contract opportunities on EGL2 and across National Grid’s wider portfolio. 

• Businesses across the North are securing work in civil engineering, cabling, transport, environmental services, and technical design, ensuring the region captures long-term economic value from the transition to cleaner energy. On EGL1, METLEN, building the converter station, have to-date placed contracts totalling in the region of £170,000 to small and medium enterprises. 

• National Grid is also investing in Grid Supply Point improvements that support Network Rail and wider transport infrastructure in the region as well as projects such as the replacement of overhead lines that cross the River Tyne with a new cable tunnel, helping to unlock economic growth in Tyneside communities and in the industries that rely on the river. 

Joining the Northern Powerhouse Partnership will allow National Grid to deepen collaboration with local leaders, industry and communities, ensuring the scale of upcoming investment translates into lasting jobs, skills development and resilient local supply chains. 

Alex Kaufman, Director of Land, Planning and External Affairs, National Grid said:  

National Grid is investing in the North to grow Britain’s energy network and support the shift to cleaner, home-grown power from more affordable sources. By joining the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, we can work even more closely with regional partners to maximise the economic benefits of this investment, from high-quality skilled jobs to a stronger local supply chain. 

Projects like Eastern Green Link 2 demonstrate the scale of opportunity. Our meet-the-buyer events are already helping northern businesses win work, while our construction partners are creating hundreds of new jobs. We look forward to supporting the Partnership’s advocacy and ensuring the North is playing a vital role in Britain’s energy transition.

Baroness Julie Elliott, Chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership said: 

We’re delighted to welcome National Grid into the Partnership and look forward to working with them to ensure communities across the North feel the full economic and skills benefits of The Great Grid Upgrade. Our ongoing research on the jobs which will be created across the economy from the manufacture and deployment of Small Modular Reactors to running more electric and battery trains all depends on electricity transmission investment. 

Discussing the apprenticeship opportunities being created across the North was a reminder of what this investment really means for all our communities. These are high-quality, secure jobs supporting the next generation of engineers and technicians, and they are central to delivering clean, affordable energy.