NeuConnect was delighted to welcome Lauren Edwards, Member of Parliament for Rochester and Strood, to the project construction site on Isle of Grain on 13^th March for an update on construction of the UK’s first direct energy link with Germany. The visit provided an opportunity for Ms Edwards to meet the project team, see progress on site, and hear first-hand how NeuConnect is generating long term local benefits for communities across Medway.

Following her visit, Ms Edwards said:

“It was great to meet NeuConnect CEO Arnaud Grévoz and his team and see construction well underway at the UK side of the NeuConnect interconnector on the Isle of Grain. Once completed in 2028, this 450-mile-long subsea electricity cable between the UK and Germany will increase both our national energy resilience and our energy sustainability. I’m delighted the project is already having a positive impact in Rochester and Strood, with 60% of the workforce employed from the local area and NeuConnect investing in partnerships with local businesses, schools, charities, and parish councils.”

During the visit, representatives from the project team outlined NeuConnect’s programme of community investment, including its UK Community Fund, which supports local organisations across the Isle of Grain and the wider Medway region. This year, the award has been granted to two organisations. Slough Fort Preservation Trust will use the funds to convert the old military recreation building into a lecture and education room for local schools and youth groups. wHoo Cares CIC has been awarded funding to make its community allotment disability accessible and to facilitate the 2026 Christmas Present Scheme, which will provide gifts for vulnerable residents living on the Hoo Peninsula, aiming to reduce loneliness and isolation and strengthen community connections.

Ms Edwards also heard how NeuConnect is creating pathways into employment, with the third instalment of NeuConnect’s annual work experience placement planned for summer 2026 designed to inspire and equip young people for future careers in engineering, energy and construction. Ms Edwards also supported NeuConnect earlier this year to deliver the Inspiring Girls event in February, where she spoke to local students at Thomas Aveling school about opportunities for careers in STEM.

The NeuConnect team also highlighted the economic benefits already being generated locally, with 60% of the workforce employed from the surrounding Medway area, and a strong focus on partnering with local suppliers and training providers.

The NeuConnect interconnector — a £2.4bn privately financed project — will create a 725km “invisible energy highway” between the UK and Germany, enabling up to 1.4GW of electricity to flow in either direction for the first time. By linking two of Europe’s largest energy markets, NeuConnect will strengthen energy security, support the transition to clean power, and deliver long‑term cost benefits for consumers.