Industry skills and training provider CATCH has officially opened its expanded centre, with support from Humber Freeport’s seed capital fund.
The new facility will provide industry collaboration space at CATCH’s home in Stallingborough, near Grimsby, further strengthening its role as a hub for skills development and knowledge sharing across the Humber region.
The expansion was formally opened by Simon Green, CEO of Humber Freeport, alongside industry leaders, partners and regional stakeholders.
Backed by £5m of seed capital funding from Humber Freeport, the centre will provide a hub for industry collaboration, member networks, conferences, education partnerships and skills development linked to emerging sectors such as hydrogen, carbon capture and renewable energy.
It will support new investment in the region, and job creation, with the centre also housing a lecture theatre, an immersive AR/VR suite, breakout and events spaces, and a dedicated member lounge.
Freeport funding is accompanied by significant private sector investment, and forms part of a wider CATCH expansion programme with partners Viking CCS and members Phillips 66 UK, Harbour Energy, Drax Group and Associated British Ports (ABP), plus Air Products and Uniper to scale up the training of industrial workers.
Mr Green said: “CATCH’s new facility provides high-quality, modern spaces which will stimulate collaboration and innovation, bringing together industry and academia for the benefit of our young people and local communities.
“Through the Freeport’s seed capital fund, we were delighted to support the expansion and celebrate an important milestone in CATCH’s own story and growth.
“CATCH’s commitment to skills development, including being home to the country’s largest welding training facility, is critical to our region’s economic prosperity and ensuring the Humber has a future workforce properly equipped with the right expertise.”
Katie Hedges, Chief Strategy Officer at CATCH, said: “With the support of Humber Freeport, we now have a facility that reflects the scale of ambition across our region.
“Our new centre represents an important investment not only in facilities, but in the strength of our membership community. CATCH was founded by industry for industry, and this space will allow our members to come together to collaborate, share expertise and shape the future of skills and industrial growth in the region.”
