Government investing in ‘clean energy’ skills

Government and industry is to train apprentice engineers, welders, and technicians.

Young people will be trained to fill thousands of ‘clean energy jobs and apprenticeships’ believed necessary to deliver ‘clean power’ by 2030 as part of the government’s Plan for Change.  

With this skills drive the government aims to hit ‘clean energy’ targets by 2030.  

The Government confirmed that the National Grid plans to support around 55,000 more jobs by the end of the decade and SSE Transmission plans are supporting a further 37,000 jobs, 17,500 of which would be in Scotland.

Scottish Power’s SP Energy Networks plans to double its transmission workforce to create around 1,400 jobs and support a further 11,000 jobs across the UK – all three plans need regulatory approval.    

The government is pursuing a Regional Skills Pilot in the ‘clean energy’ sector. Aberdeen, Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire have all been identified as ‘key growth regions’ for ‘clean energy’. Local partners will receive funding to identify the skills support needed in their area to deliver ‘clean power’ by 2030. 

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says, ‘The energy sector has always been a source of good, skilled, and unionised jobs for young people across the UK, providing secure, well-paid employment for life.   

To meet our target to reach clean power by 2030, we need a clean power army of engineers, welders and technicians – giving thousands of young people the opportunity to play a vital role in tackling the climate crisis, increasing our energy security and boosting the economy to deliver our Plan for Change.’

The government has also launched Skills England and the Office for Clean Energy Jobs with the aim to bring together key partners to meet the skills needs of the next decade.    

Existing initiatives include:  

• The Skills Passport, which supports oil and gas workers identify routes into roles in offshore wind
• Your Apprenticeship app, which is an app designed by the government with extensive input from apprentices to provide easier access to essential tools, resources