Current offshore foundation technology is being transferred successfully to the renewable energy sector, but there is clearly scope to develop foundation systems that are more tuned to the needs of the renewable power systems such as wind powered generators. One such approach would be for foundation systems that combine several foundation elements to create a ‘hybrid’system. In this way it may be possible to develop a foundation system which is more efficient for the combination of vertical and lateral loads associated with wind powered generators. This paper reports a series of small-scale centrifuge model tests designed to investigate if the hybrid system offers a significant advantage in terms of lateral and axial load capacities to a conventional monopiled foundation. It is apparent that the lateral response of a single monopiled foundation can be enhanced by the presence of a bearing plate. Whilst the effect on the initial lateral stiffness was not observed to be significant, the lateral stiffness beyond this initial movement was significantly enhanced.