Clean energy could deliver 400,000 jobs by 2030, with demand for roles including plumbers, electricians and welders, the UK Government has claimed.<\/p>\n
It comes as the UK Government has published a comprehensive national plan to train up the next generation of clean energy workers, with employment expected to double to 860,000 by 2030.<\/p>\n
The plan will set out clear workforce estimates for the first time, and aims for industry, the public sector, and education providers to work together to deliver one cohesive strategy to invest in training for specific in demand occupations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For young people, the government said the jobs can offer higher levels of pay \u2013 with entry level roles in the majority of occupations in clean energy paying 23% more than the same occupations in other sectors.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jobs in wind, nuclear, and electricity networks all advertise average salaries of over \u00a350,000, compared to the UK average of \u00a337,000, and are spread across coastal and post-industrial communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New initiatives include:\u00a0<\/p>\n
The plan also includes proposals to ensure that jobs in the clean energy sector have good quality pay, terms and conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It comes after the Prime Minister announced a package of reforms to elevate and transform the education skills system, with a new target for two-thirds of young people to participate in higher-level learning \u2013 academic, technical or apprenticeships \u2013 by age 25, up from 50%.<\/p>\n
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cCommunities have long been calling out for a new generation of good industrial jobs. The clean energy jobs boom can answer that call \u2013 and today we publish a landmark national plan to make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden, said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re giving workers the skills needed for switch to clean energy, which is good for them, good for industry \u2013 and will drive growth across the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cProjects right across the country from Pembrokeshire to Flintshire are creating opportunities for hundreds of our young people and will help drive regional growth as well as accelerating our drive towards lower bills and energy security.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the\u00a0TUC, said:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAfter years of previous governments starving British industry of investment, this represents a serious plan to start to rebuild our industrial heartlands and deliver quality jobs in clean energy \u2013 as well as supporting even more in supply chains right across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, National Officer at the GMB, said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cGMB has long campaigned for a jobs first transition. The government is listening and having a jobs plan to underpin the industrial strategy is exactly what this country needs.\u201d<\/p>\n Eddie Dempsey, General Secretary of the\u00a0RMT, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cRMT\u00a0welcomes the government\u2019s commitment to closing loopholes in maritime and offshore employment law, which should in turn create domestic opportunities in coastal communities that support the entirety of the offshore wind supply chain.\u201d<\/p>\n Christina McAnea, General Secretary of UNISON said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cClean, homegrown energy is essential in tackling climate change and delivering economic growth. This plan can help create a UK workforce with highly skilled, fairly paid and secure jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n Alasdair McDiarmid, Assistant General Secretary at Community Union, said<\/strong>:<\/p>\n \u201cThe push for new clean energy jobs will also support our members in both the light industries and steel sector, with steel being an essential component for green energy infrastructure and construction.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Sue Ferns\u00a0OBE, Senior Deputy General Secretary at Prospect, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe infrastructure investment required to achieve the government\u2019s clean energy mission must be backed by a major boost to jobs and skills. If this mission is to be a success, and support the wider industrial strategy and growth agendas, then we urgently need a step-change in the level of workforce development. In this context is it welcome that this Jobs Plan now exists and the new initiatives are a welcome step in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n Frances O\u2019Grady, Former General Secretary of the\u00a0TUC, said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cEnergy workers and their families are at the heart of this plan \u2013 showing the clean energy transition provides not just energy security but job security.\u201d<\/p>\n Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWell paid, secure work must be at the heart of any green transition. Unite members will welcome the commitment to 400,000 green jobs with strong collective bargaining rights. The actions set out in this plan are initial steps in what must be an ambitious strategy for tangible jobs, backed by an equally ambitious programme of public investment.\u201d<\/p>\n Chris O\u2019Shea, Chief Executive of Centrica, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe have committed to creating a new apprenticeship for every day of this decade. These new secure, skilled, well-paid jobs are key to unlocking the economic growth the UK so desperately needs.\u201d<\/p>\n Keith Anderson,\u00a0CEO\u00a0of ScottishPower, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThanks to the clear direction set out by the government\u2019s Clean Power 2030 Mission, we\u2019re investing at record levels in the clean electricity infrastructure the UK needs for energy security and economic growth.\u201d<\/p>\n EDF power solutions UK\u00a0CEO\u00a0Matthieu Hue said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome the plan which brings clarity on the scale of the opportunity for people across the UK to work in high quality jobs which will contribute to our electric future.\u201d<\/p>\n Darren Davidson, Vice President of Siemens Energy UK&I, said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSiemens Energy is a major employer in the UK with 6,500 workers at sites across the UK. We have taken on 140 new apprentices this autumn, and we currently have more than 200 active vacancies.\u201d<\/p>\n Chris Norbury,\u00a0CEO\u00a0of E.ON UK, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cClean power is a defining opportunity to grow the economy, strengthen energy security, and create skilled jobs that support communities nationwide. We welcome the Clean Energy Jobs Plan as a vital step towards building the workforce to realise that potential.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael Lewis,\u00a0CEO\u00a0Uniper said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cUniper aims to invest approximately \u20ac8 billion into growth and transformation projects by the early 2030s, including solar and onshore wind projects, hydrogen projects, and a new combined-cycle gas turbine power station with carbon capture technology at our Connah\u2019s Quay site \u2013 contributing to the retention and creation of jobs, and supporting the regional economy.\u201d<\/p>\n Zac Richardson, Group Chief Engineer at National Grid, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSecure, affordable and clean energy is essential to unlocking UK economic growth and productivity \u2013 ambitions which are underpinned by electricity networks and the unprecedented levels of planned investment in them.\u201d<\/p>\n Tania Kumar, Director of Net Zero at the\u00a0CBI, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe growth of the clean energy economy is creating opportunities for people and places across the whole of the UK. The launch of the Clean Energy Jobs Plan offers a tangible way to connect communities with both the opportunities emerging across the sector and the businesses at the forefront of delivering them.\u201d<\/p>\n Dhara Vyas,\u00a0CEO\u00a0of Energy UK, said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s announcement is a critical step forward in building the workforce required to deliver our future energy system. It rightly recognises the need to tackle the skills challenge collectively by investing in both new talent and our existing workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n Jane Cooper, Deputy Chief Executive at Renewable UK, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe Clean Energy Jobs Plan sets out the scale of the massive opportunity which the UK has to create tens of thousands of new jobs in renewables all over the country.\u00a0\u201c<\/p>\n Katy Heidenreich Supply Chain and People Director at Offshore Energies UK, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cInvesting in skills development is essential to support the UK\u2019s energy sector and it is encouraging to see governments recognise the huge resource of our oil and gas workforce and how their skills can be developed to provide the expertise needed for the energy mix of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Claire Mack\u00a0OBE, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe clean power mission is not just about energy security for the country, it\u2019s about good jobs and a workforce fit the future in your locale. The scale and importance of the energy transition requires new approaches to ensure investments in skills, apprenticeships and training serve the needs of the entire economy.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Martin, Policy Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe net zero economy is continuing to grow, and the Clean Energy Jobs Plan clearly sets out how the government will recruit essential workers who are critical for the UK\u2019s energy transition. This will support both net zero and economic growth across the UK, providing certainty for people and local communities.\u00a0\u201c<\/p>\n Verity Davidge, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, at Make UK said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cManufacturers are moving at pace to invest in decarbonisation and net zero projects and the transition to clean energy offers huge opportunities for industry. To take full advantage, companies will need to have access to increasingly higher levels of skills and a talent pipeline which will fuel the growth we need to see.\u201d<\/p>\n Clare Jackson,\u00a0CEO\u00a0of Hydrogen UK, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome the Clean Energy Jobs Plan\u2019s recognition that hydrogen will be vital to net zero and to creating high-quality jobs. Much of the oil and gas workforce already has transferable skills, and supporting their transition into hydrogen will be key to a just and rapid shift to a clean energy economy.\u201d<\/p>\n Olivia Powis,\u00a0CEO\u00a0of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome the Clean Jobs Plan and its recognition of the vital role\u00a0CCUS\u00a0and hydrogen will play in achieving the UK\u2019s growth and decarbonisation goals while keeping industries competitive. Developing the necessary skills base is crucial to unlocking these sectors\u2019 full potential and protecting thousands of existing industrial jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThis Jobs Plan shows the huge opportunity clean power offers the UK, and the vital role nuclear will play in delivering it. With 100,000 people already working in nuclear in good, skilled jobs across the country, new stations like Sizewell C and a fleet of\u00a0SMRs\u00a0will create thousands more \u2014 especially for young people \u2014 in clean and secure energy.\u201d<\/p>\n Chris Hewett, Chief Executive, Solar Energy UK, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSolar energy and battery energy storage already support over 20,000 British jobs, with expectations that the sectors will employ more than twice the number in 10 years\u2019 time. But to reach our goals for cheaper, cleaner power, we need to redouble our efforts to attract and train staff for these fast-growing sectors. With our Solar Careers UK programme and critical support from government under the Clean Energy Jobs Plan, we have every expectation that our aspirations will be fulfilled.\u201d<\/p>\n Yselkla Farmer,\u00a0CEO\u00a0of\u00a0BEAMA, said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe have a long heritage of manufacturing for the electricity industry in the UK. As a supply chain at the heart of the clean energy sector we know the growth potential is substantial as we electrify our energy system.\u00a0\u201c<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Lawrence Slade,\u00a0CEO\u00a0of Energy Networks Association, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThis plan is an important step towards accelerating the real economic benefits of the clean energy transition right around the country. Today network operators employ around 26,000 people and facilitate 1,500 apprenticeships, in order to maintain the safe, reliable operation of over 500,000 miles of wires and cables.\u201d<\/p>\n Lieutenant General (Retd) Richard Nugee\u00a0CB\u00a0CVO\u00a0CBE, Chair, Mission Renewable, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe Clean Energy Jobs Plan reflects the valuable contributions those who have served have made and can continue to make to the nation. By linking veterans and their families with career opportunities in the clean energy sector, Mission Renewable helps companies tap into and retain skilled talent, while at the same time enabling Armed Forces communities to thrive and feel valued.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul Cox, Group\u00a0CEO\u00a0of Energy & Utility Skills, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cFor the government to achieve its 2030 target, we must put people at the heart of that ambition \u2013 only by having the right people with the right skills will we deliver the UK\u2019s energy future.\u201d<\/p>\n David Hughes, Chief Executive of Association of Colleges, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThis exciting plan will help people get the skills they need to secure good work locally and it is great to see the investment in colleges to back the government\u2019s ambitions on a net zero future.\u201d<\/p>\n Image from Shutterstock<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Clean energy could deliver 400,000 jobs by 2030, with demand for roles including plumbers, electricians and welders, the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":516078,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3092],"tags":[51,897,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-516077","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jobs","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-jobs","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115410229464195229","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=516077"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516077\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/516078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=516077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=516077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=516077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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