Community
DBS has the potential to create significant opportunities for the local area and wider region.
Education
RWE has a history of bringing education and employment to the east coast region. Participation in our education and training programmes boosts employability, helping people to compete for and win new jobs with us and across the wider offshore wind industry in the region.
Through DBS, we have already initiated a Primary School STEM engagement programme in 2024, which expanded to more schools in 2025. Find out more on our skills and learning pages.
Supply chain
Companies involved in the offshore wind supply chain are essential to the success of DBS and local and regional companies are well-placed to secure contracts on the projects in the future.
We plan to:
- Maximise potential for the benefit of local businesses;
- Create new, high-quality, long-term jobs;
- Support new skills development and
- Wherever possible, ensure that all local options are explored.
Find out more on our supply chain pages.
Community
We are already working closely with local communities to ensure that we communicate clearly and in a timely manner about our activities, hosting regular Local Liaison Committees with Parish Council representatives. Our aim is to ensure that activities related to DBS cause the least possible inconvenience to local communities as the project progresses.
Community Benefit Package
As part of the plans for the proposed DBS projects, a community benefit package is being developed that includes a community fund. The fund is being developed in line with new Government guidance setting out how projects like ours can deliver a positive legacy by helping to deliver local plans and aspirations. The proposed DBS converter stations are expected to be in scope of the guidance, resulting in a total community fund of up to £1,060,000 (based on the installation of two converter stations).
To help us shape the proposed fund and to identify what matters most to local communities we invited residents to take part in a survey to tell us about the kind of projects a fund might support and which communities the funds could benefit. The consultation ran between 27 Januray - 27 March 2026 and included a survey (online, with paper copies on request) and in-person events held in Little Weigton and Walkington. You can learn more about our community fund consultation activities in our blog.
Thank you to everyone who participated - work is already underway to review the feedback with a view to developing a community fund with the potential to bring lasting benefits to the area.
To find out how community funds have benefited other communities local to wind farm projects please visit the following case studies:
What else will the Community Benefit Package include?
DBS has already started driving education, skills and careers in STEM through offshore wind education initiatives. We are committed to fostering thriving and sustainable local economies, investing in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, job creation, skills development and training. Our initiatives help people to develop essential skills, enhance employability, and explore promising careers in offshore.
The UK Government has also announced plans for an electricity bill discount scheme for nearby households, which we also expect would apply to our proposed converter stations. This could include bill discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years for those living within 500 metres of the converter stations. The mechanism for delivering this funding has been secured as part of the recent Planning and Infrastructure Act, and the Government expects the scheme to be in place by 2026. We will share further details as they become available.
Other pages you might be interested in
Current status
What’s happening now and next
The story so far...
Catch up on the projects’ journey so far
Keep in touch
Get in touch and ask our team questions