More than 300 skilled jobs on the Isle of Wight have been saved after government intervention and fresh investment from wind turbine manufacturer Vestas secured the future of its
Newport factory.
The government has confirmed a £20 million grant to support the repurposing of the long-established site, allowing it to become the UK’s only dedicated onshore wind blade manufacturing facility. The move ends months of uncertainty for workers and positions the island at the centre of Britain’s clean energy transition.
Vestas has operated on the Isle of Wight for over two decades, but the factory’s future was thrown into doubt in 2024 when demand for the specific offshore blades produced there came to an end. Logistical challenges also meant the Danish firm could not manufacture the next generation of larger offshore blades at the site.
With hundreds of jobs at risk, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stepped in, reaching an agreement in principle with Vestas to shift production towards onshore wind blades. The plan was made possible after the government lifted the long-standing onshore wind ban in England, breathing new life into a sector that had seen little growth for nearly ten years.
The newly confirmed funding will enable the factory to be retooled, scale up production and secure its long-term viability. Ministers say the investment not only protects jobs but also strengthens the UK’s clean energy supply chain and reduces reliance on imported components.
The decision is seen as a major boost for the government’s ambition to deliver clean power by 2030. By anchoring advanced manufacturing on the Isle of Wight, the site will play a key role in rebuilding domestic industry, improving energy security and helping to shield households from volatile fossil fuel prices.
Climate Minister Katie White said: “It was a no-brainer to save the Vestas factory on the Isle of Wight and create the country’s only dedicated onshore wind blade facility. Onshore wind is one of our cheapest and fastest technologies to build, it supports thousands of skilled jobs, and it delivers clean energy directly to the communities that host it.
While our thoughts are with those who have lost their jobs, by safeguarding over 300 roles, we are protecting one of the Isle of Wight’s largest employers and giving Britain the ability to produce the homegrown, clean power we need to bring bills down for good”.
Ken Kaser, Senior Vice President Blades Manufacturing, at Vestas said:
“Vestas and the Isle of Wight have a long, proud history of manufacturing world class wind turbine blades. We are delighted to partner with government on actions and policy that supports skilled jobs, strengthens the UK’s supply chain, and positions the site at the heart of the country’s clean energy sector’s future.
Onshore wind is one of the easiest and cheapest technologies to build and will supply British homes and businesses with clean, secure homegrown power that ends a reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets – all part of the mission to get bills down for good”.
Onshore wind is widely regarded as one of the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy and is expected to play a growing role in powering homes and businesses across the country. Under the government’s Onshore Wind Strategy, the sector could support up to 45,000 skilled jobs nationwide by 2030, spanning engineering, construction and long-term maintenance.
For the Isle of Wight, the investment marks a turning point — securing jobs today while placing the island at the forefront of Britain’s renewable energy industry for years to come. Photo by Ulayiti, Wikimedia commons.