THE North-East requires recognition as the leading centre for the newest offshore wind technologies according to a new report which calls for the sector to be put on a par with the pharmaceutical and car industries.

The ‘Winning Locally, Going Global’ report by former Defence Secretary and Energy Minister Sir Michael Fallon recommends the Government establish a new 60 per cent UK content target for British offshore wind projects, up from the current 50 per cent.

He said there needed to be more transparency in terms of UK involvement in each wind farm project, putting added value in jobs and local skills.

Sir Michael also said that as public spending was already allocated up to 2025, the Government should set out the full timetable for each future auction of contracts, helping the industry to plan, invest and recruit.

The report was commissioned by Teesside firm Wilton Engineering and launched before an invited audience at Middlesbrough College’s STEM centre.

It highlighted developments in turbine and blade technologies, cabling and electricity storage and the work of firms such as Deep Ocean, based in Darlington, and Aycliffe’s Tekmar.

Sir Michael, the former Conservative MP for Darlington, said he would be pushing the report with Government ministers and said those working in offshore renewables needed to “champion” what they were doing and the wider sector.

He said: “This is a winning industry for Britain and as other countries look around and start building up their wind farms, I want them to look here and I want Government to get behind this industry as a major export player across the world.

“A generation ago we sent engineers from Teesside to other side of the world to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge. That is the kind of vision we need now.

“We have simply got to start talking this up as an industry and talk of it in the same breath as we talk about the success of our car industry and the success of our aerospace industry. It is something we do really well.

“We have created the most successful offshore wind industry in the world and a large part of it has been built in the North-East.”

Mr Fallon said it was perfectly possible to encourage higher UK content without undermining the competitiveness of the industry or subsidising or propping up companies.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen praised it as a “fantastic report”.

He said: “This is an industry that is going to start seeing expenditure reach north of £18bn, creating potentially more than 25,000 jobs in the UK, and it speaks volumes to the success of Teesside that this report has been penned and launched here because of the key role we play in the offshore renewables sector.

“I want to see many of those jobs and the capital investment coming to Teesside rather than elsewhere.

“We need to push Government and others to make sure they take up with both hands the recommendations of this report.

“This is a gold standard industry and it is where the future of energy is going.”

Bill Scott, chief executive of Wilton Engineering, said: “The North-East is home to talented and innovative businesses that form a major link in the offshore wind supply chain. However, the UK supply chain needs the Government to maintain its commitment to local content from our own licences.”

He added: “As companies involved in the industry we don’t big ourselves up enough. Throughout the UK people look at Teesside and the work we are doing and they are envious that they are punching above our weight.”

Last year Wilton won contracts from Steelwind to deliver 21 transition pieces for a new wind farm off the coast at Hornsea, East Yorkshire.

Each piece weighs 340 tonnes and links the foundations of offshore wind turbines to their towers.

Steelwind’s client, Danish company Ørsted, has been awarded offshore wind licences from the Crown Estate and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.