The Aura Centre for Doctoral Training has been recognised for the major step change it will make in education and training for the offshore wind industry by picking up the award in the Education category at the Humber Renewable Awards on Thursday 13 June 2019.

The Humber Renewable Awards, which have been running eight years, shine a light on the exceptional work being carried out within the low carbon sector across both banks of the Humber, recognising success across nine categories.

Professor Dan Parsons, Director of the Energy & Environment Institute at the University of Hull, said: “It’s fantastic to get this external recognition for the role we are playing in driving research and innovation, alongside developing the next generation talent and leadership for the offshore wind sector.

“The Humber is now the global centre for offshore wind and the Aura Centre for Doctoral Training will be a cornerstone of support as the industry continues to grow regionally and internationally.”

The EPSRC and NERC funded Aura Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Offshore Wind Energy and the Environment is led by the Energy and Environment Institute at the University of Hull, with academic partners Durham, Newcastle and Sheffield Universities.

It integrates the core strengths of each institution in environment, engineering and energy.

The Aura CDT also has close ties with more than 20 industry partners and play a major role in developing the talent pipeline for the low carbon energy sector.

The first PhD cohort will join the Aura CDT in September 2020, undertaking 4-year fully funded scholarships. Students begin with a full-time, 1-year taught Postgraduate Diploma at the University of Hull before embarking on a 3 year PhD with one of the four partner academic institutions, aligned with the Aura industry partners or based at the new £12 million flagship Aura Innovation Centre.

The EPSRC and NERC funding allows for a further four annual intakes of fully funded scholarships, with the next round of recruitment taking place in Autumn 2019.