Blackpool & Fylde College named as fracking training hub

A NORTH West college has been picked to become the national training centre for the fracking industry, the Government has revealed.

Blackpool and The Fylde College based at Bispham is being visited by business, energy and skills minister Matthew Hancock, who will say it will will serve as the UK hub for the National College for Onshore Oil and Gas.

Other colleges around the country will serve as “spokes” for the hub. The college will deliver advanced qualifications, up to and including honours degree programmes, for engineers and technicians.

The college has provided training for the offshore oil and gas industry since the 1970s.

Fylde Conservative MP Mark Menzies has been lobbying for several months for the college to be named the centre of excellence for fracking training. Planning permission is currently being sought for two shale gas exploration sites in Fylde,

Bev Robinson, principal and chief executive at Blackpool and The Fylde College welcomed the news and said: “Crucially, this will drive long term investment in the region, meet the demand for highly skilled labour and secure local jobs.

“To be named as the hub for one of the National Colleges is a privilege.”

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a technique designed to recover gas and oil from shale rock. It is controversial though as opponents fear its long term environmental damage.

There have been demonstrations in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and West Sussex where potential reserves have been identified and test drilling has taken place.

Earlier this year protesters stormed the offices of Blackpool Chamber of Commerce angry that the business organisation had adopted a pro-fracking stance.