courses

we have courses starting in April 2025 | click here to register interest and be the first to find out!

off shore wind farm blyth wind turbine training

Below is an outline of the courses we offer - please contact kelly@windacademy.co.uk or use our contact page to find out more.

We are thrilled to be delivering fully funded Department for Education Skills Bootcamps in partnership with New College Durham. Please get in touch if you would like further information and to find out the eligibility requirements.

We are a certified Global Wind Organisation (GWO) Training Provider and offer GWO training courses for new entrants, those transitioning into the wind industry and GWO refresher courses.

Need an offshore medical? We offer a variety of services with our experienced medic. This can be added to your training course or book here.

GWO Offshore Wind Training North East England
Skills For Life Bootcamps
  • Developed by leading industry experts who saw the need to bridge the gap between existing fibre optic training and the exact requirements of offshore wind.

    The course includes basics that you’ll be required to know for working as a Fibre Optic Technician including:

    • Cable Handling and routing

    • Cable stripping

    • Enclosures, components and materials

    • Containment building

    • Offshore wind orientation

    • Glanding SWA cables

    • Breaking into OPGW loose tubes

    • Installations and earthing

    • Fusion splicing

    • Testing requirements including bare end adaptors

    • OTDR Testing & Reporting

    Target Audience:

    • New entrants into offshore wind looking for employment with focus on Fibre Optic Installation. Workers in offshore wind looking to shift trade to Fibre Optic Technician.

    Pre-requisites:

    • Good standard of fitness and ideally passed an OGUK or similar medical and Chester Step fitness test. We offer onsite medicals at our Blyth training centre - click here to book this alongside your course.

    Click here to find out more!

  • The course runs over 5 days covering, OTDR Set-up requirements, and then a range of testing, fault location and FastReporter practical sessions. You'll need an understanding of how to test and use an OTDR but everything else will be covered so you'll walk away at the end of the week understanding how to test any link or inter array string uni and bi-directional and produce reports with FastReporter. 

    It’s comprehensive and the aim is to give developers, Tier 1 contractors and T&T companies the confidence that anyone who's done this training and passed is knowledgeable and can test any offshore network.

    Target Audience:

    Technicians who are already working in offshore wind.

    Prerequisites:

    Must already have experience working with OTDRs.

    Click here to find out more.

  • Developed specifically for entrants into the offshore wind industry by cable experts with experience of installation/construction and maintenance contracts.

    The course includes basics that you’ll be required to know for working as a cable technician including:

    • Cable handling

    • Cable stripping

    • Cable routing and application of heating blankets

    • Components and materials

    • Containment building

    • Use of radio for communication

    • Gas testing and recording

    Then one of the following:

    • ROV Awareness

    • Cable preparation

    Target Audience:

    • New entrants into offshore wind looking for employment with focus on cable installation. Workers in offshore wind looking to shift focus to cable installation.

    Pre-requisites:

    • Good standard of fitness and ideally passed an OGUK or similar medical and Chester Step fitness test.

    Click here to find out more.

  • Suitable for learners already experienced in cable jointing and termination. The course is delivered by industry cable experts with experience of installation/construction and maintenance contracts.

    The course includes basics that you’ll be required to know for working as a cable technician including:

    • Cable handling

    • Cable stripping

    • Cable routing and application of heating blankets

    • Components and materials

    • Containment building

    • Use of radio for communication

    • Gas testing and recording

    Then one of the following:

    • ROV Awareness

    • Cable preparation

    Target Audience:

    • Those already working in offshore wind cable installation and those with previous experience of cable jointing and termination.

    Pre-requisites:

    • Good standard of fitness and ideally passed an OGUK or similar medical and Chester Step fitness test.

    Click here to find out more.

  • Developed by industry experts from offshore wind and the Faraday Centre to prepare engineers and technicians to successfully test and fault locate on subsea cables. Using specially designed test rigs for practical sessions with simulated faults that you’d encounter in the offshore environment. Course takes you through all phases required to successfully test including:

    • Electrical and mechanical safety rules and competent persons training

    • Permit and document requirements for testing

    • Regulations and standards

    • Purpose of testing

    • Test equipment

    • Test conditions and methods

    • Safe isolations

    • Cable preparation for testing

    • Cable testing

    • Cable fault pre-location on specialist test rigs

    • Fibre optic testing

    • Basic report generation

    Target Audience:

    • Engineers and Technicians looking to develop themselves in cable testing for offshore wind. Potential test engineers, managers and client representatives needing a comprehensive look at cable testing and fault location.

    Pre-requisites:

    • A demonstrable knowledge in electronic, electrical or optical trade through CV, reference trade certification.

    Click here to find out more.

  • For Electrical Test Engineers or electrical focused trades requiring upgrade and/or up-skill in cable testing and cable fault location. Hands on training course led by experienced trainers, covering all aspects of accessory installation for the MV/HV Connex cable connection system. Our professional trainers will provide clear theoretical understanding of the subject, leaving cable jointers much better placed to complete projects on time and in a problem-free way. Successful completion of test piece will result in Pfisterer certification on the chosen product.

    Target Audience:

    • MV and HV Cable Jointers requiring product knowledge and certification. Initial and renewal certification for product warranties.

    Prerequisites:

    • A demonstrable knowledge of cable jointing and terminations through CV’s, references & trade certifications.

    Click here to find out more.

  • Hands on training course led by experienced trainers, covering all aspects of accessory installation for the NKT72CB product. Our professional trainers will provide clear theoretical understanding of the subject, leaving cable jointers much better placed to complete projects on time and in a problem-free way.

    Successful completion of test piece will result in NKT certification on this product.

    Target Audience:

    • MV and HV Cable Jointers requiring product knowledge and certification. Initial and renewal certification for product warranties.

    Prerequisites:

    • A demonstrable knowledge of cable jointing and terminations through CV’s, references & trade certifications.

    Click here to find out more.

  • Hands on training course led by experienced trainers, covering all aspects of accessory installation for the Nexans 66kV product. Our professional trainers will provide clear theoretical understanding of the subject, leaving cable jointers much better placed to complete projects on time and in a problem-free way.

    Successful completion of test piece will result in certification on this product.

    Target Audience:

    • MV and HV Cable Jointers requiring product knowledge and certification. Initial and renewal certification for product warranties.

    Prerequisites:

    • A demonstrable knowledge of cable jointing and terminations through CV’s, references & trade certifications.

    Click here to find out more.

  • The combined five mandatory Global Wind Organisation training courses that introduce participants to the wind industry taken over 5 days.

    • GWO Fire Awareness

    • GWO First Aid

    • GWO Working at Height

    • GWO Manual Handling

    • GWO Sea Survival

    Target Audience:

    • New entrants into the offshore wind industry. Refresher training is available taken over 3 days for those wishing to refresh current GWO BST.

    Prerequisites:

    • WINDA ID.

    • Maximum participant weight of 125kg.

    • Good standard of fitness and ideally passed an OGUK or similar medical and Chester Step fitness test. We offer onsite medicals at our Blyth training centre - click here to book this alongside your course.

    Click here to find out more.

  • This 3 day course teaches how to administer safe and effective Enhanced First Aid in the wind turbine industry/ WTG environment, in accordance with GWO Enhanced First Aid Standard, through theoretical and practical training.

    Modules include:

    • Risks, Hazards and Legislation

    • Anatomy

    • Management of an Incident Emergency Response and Medical Teleconsultation

    • Life Saving and Enhanced First Aid using Primary and Secondary Survey

    • Pain Management and Further Possible Medication

    • Scenario Based Training

    Target Audience:

    • New entrants into the offshore wind industry, or those wishing to improve first aid competency after completion of GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) .

    • Refresher training is available taken over 2 days for those wishing to refresh current GWO EFA.

    Prerequisites:

    • WINDA ID.

    • Maximum participant weight of 125kg.

    • Good standard of fitness and ideally passed an OGUK or similar medical and Chester Step fitness test. We offer onsite medicals at our Blyth training centre - click here to book this alongside your course.

    Click here to find out more.

  • The GWO’s Slinger Signaller module is to enable the participant to support and care for themselves and others while working with slinger signalling in the wind industry by possessing the required knowledge, skills, and ability to conduct assigned tasks safely and efficiently.

    Upon successful completion of GWO’s Slinger Signaller module training course, the participant will be able to work within the wind industry conducting slinging techniques and signalling during simple lifting operations, meaning lifts conducted based on a lifting plan or covering known hazards.

    Target Audience:

    • All persons involved with slinger signalling duties in the offshore wind sector.

    Prerequisites:

    • Have a basic understanding of the industry, the dangers of working in the industry and their responsibilities.

    • WINDA ID.

    • Medically fit to participate in practical sessions.

    Click here to find out more.

  • Learn how to efficiently and safely use the Actsafe Power Ascender in this 1 day course.

    The course includes how to:

    • Safely operate the ActSafe Power Ascender.

    • Perform routine pre-use checks and basic troubleshooting.

    • Understand safety procedures and emergency protocols.

    • Carry out proper rigging for safe ascender use.

    • Conduct post-use inspection and maintenance.

    • Demonstrate the use of the ascender in practical situations.

    Target Audience:

    • All persons involved with confined spaces works, both onshore and offshore.

    Prerequisites:

    • Medically fit to participate in practical sessions

    Click here to find out more.

  • The course focuses on operational skills, safety proficiency, and certification renewal for confident and secure use of the ISC R-ALF system in confined spaces and rescue scenarios.

    The ISC R-ALF is a pioneering blend of hoist and descent systems, purpose-built for confined space tasks and rescue missions. Its integrated design includes an ‘over-speed brake’ for secure manoeuvres when lifting or lowering people or oneself.

    With a 5:1 mechanical advantage, the ISC R-ALF minimises the effort needed to lift or lower individuals or payloads. It’s certified for up to 250kg, ideal for rescue operations, confined spaces, and precise positioning tasks.

    Training consists of practical exercises based on actual scenarios and theoretical presentations.

    Target Audience:

    • All persons involved with confined spaces works, both onshore and offshore.

    Prerequisites:

    • Medically fit to participate in practical sessions.

    Click here to find out more.

  • Consolidated data management and post-processing software designed to increase the reporting productivity for all types of optical-layer testing: intelligent Optical Link Mapper (iOLM), OTDR, ORL, IL, PMD CD and connector end-face inspection.

    Target Audience:

    • Technicians, supervisors or managers responsible for producing optical test reports, editing and analysing multiple files.

    Prerequisites:

    • Understanding of optical testing.

    Click here to find out more.

  • This course covers 6 main elements of ROV training and operations.

    • Different types of ROV

    • Safety considerations

    • ROV applications

    • What is an ROV team

    • Capabilities and limitations of an ROV

    • Piloting an ROV

    Completion of this course is a prerequisite for the ROV introductory training course.

    Target Audience:

    • Individuals looking for an appreciation in ROV operations or seeking their first step towards becoming an ROV Pilot/Technician.

    Prerequisites:

    • Ideally an appreciation for the role of ROV’s in the offshore industry and appreciation of the offshore industry in general.

    Click here to find out more.

  • This intensive 10 day course covers:

    HSEQ:

    Awareness of the offshore industry codes of practice, legislation, and guidelines; understanding of requirements for travelling to offshore sites by helicopter; understanding of safety culture in the offshore industry; electrical safety awareness and understanding of electrical isolations including lock out/tag out systems; understanding the dangers of high energy systems (electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic) and associated good safety awareness; confidence to carry out task risk assessments (TRA) and toolbox talks (TBT) to company requirements.

    Industry:

    Understanding of the offshore wind industry; understanding of ROV business lines and associated requirements; awareness of offshore life on various offshore worksites/vessels; awareness of the offshore working environment of and the importance of teamwork.

    Operations:

    Awareness of a trainee’s duties and their role in the ROV crew; understanding of launch and recovery systems (LARS) and awareness of risks; basic ROV piloting skills including navigation, station keeping, tracking, close visual inspection, and tether management; understanding of all appropriate documentation; recognition of ROV system components; awareness of company integrated management system (IMS); awareness of contractual terms and operational impacts; understanding of the importance of good communication; understanding of ‘competence’.

    Target Audience:

    • Technicians seeking a career as an ROV Pilot or Technician who have experience outlined within IMCA R002:

    Prerequisites:

    • Recognised trade qualification in Electronics/Electrical, Hydraulic or Mechanical.

    • Nationally recognised higher education with at least 1 years trade experience

    • If none of the above apply then certain circumstances allow for evidenced extensive industry experience.

    • ROV Awareness Training

    Click here to find out more.