Power up the north. It’s the phrase The Yorkshire Post itself made famous in a rallying cry for regional investment. At STEP Fusion, we’re taking that rallying cry literally.

With the development of the UK’s first fusion energy prototype power station at West Burton – just a few miles from Doncaster where the Great Northern Conference is taking place next month – we’re reigniting an industry that meant so much to so many.

What is STEP Fusion? It harnesses the process that powers the sun and the stars to produce a new kind of clean energy.

STEP takes its name from the shape of the machine – the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production – and offers the potential for an almost limitless energy, free from carbon emissions and long-term waste.

placeholder image — Ben Bradley shares his expert insight

For Yorkshire, the north Midlands and north Lincolnshire, it does something else: it paves the way for a new era of economic growth centred on the industry that defined so many local communities – power.

While STEP Fusion is at the global cutting edge of research and technology, it is much more than a scientific milestone. It’s a catalyst for the creation of thousands of high-quality jobs ranging from engineering, construction, manufacturing, digital and operations to the small businesses that grow up around a new industry.

Growth will not be confined to specialist businesses or highly-qualified scientists.

From apprenticeships to advanced research roles, STEP Fusion will offer a lifetime of career opportunities, helping people across the region contribute to a globally significant mission.

Skills development is at the heart of the STEP programme - we will work with local colleges, universities, and training providers to equip people with the capabilities needed for fusion and the sectors that support it.

This includes everything from precision welding and robotics to data science and systems integration. And because the project will run into the 2040s and beyond, it means sustained demand for a wide range of skills and creating a pipeline of talent that will benefit the region for generations.

Education will also benefit. We’re already working with schools and communities, to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators. STEP Fusion will help young people to see a future for themselves in high-tech industries, right here in their hometowns.

The social value is equally compelling. STEP Fusion will empower local communities through investment, collaboration, and shared purpose. It will support inclusive growth, ensuring that the benefits of fusion are felt widely and fairly.

STEP Fusion is powering up the north already. While our site at West Burton is now being developed, the team at our Fusion Technology Facility at Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park has been testing the materials and components our prototype will need for more than three years. We’re also collaborating with the universities of Sheffield and York, while the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority joins the East Midlands Combined County Authority and Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority in partnering with us.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. With £2.5 billion committed to fusion R&D by Government, the UK is backing STEP Fusion to succeed. We have the chance to lead the world in clean energy innovation while delivering lasting economic benefits for people and places.

Fusion is no longer a distant dream. It’s happening now, and it’s happening here.

The journey from fossil to fusion is underway at West Burton and it’s a journey that will power our future.

This December we are proud to be a sponsor of the Great Northern Conference and look forward to meeting like-minded organisations to help bring the benefits of fusion to the region.

Ben Bradley is Head of Communications and Investment for STEP Fusion/UKIFS. He is a former Conservative MP and leader of Nottinghamshire County Council.