The UK government has revealed a significant new plan to train thousands of young people and workers for careers in the clean energy sector, aiming to meet ambitious targets to deliver clean power across the country by 2030
As part of the Plan for Change initiative, the government will partner with industry leaders, unions, and local authorities to create a “clean power army” of engineers, welders, technicians, and other skilled workers.
This effort is key to a strategy to drive economic growth, boost energy security, and transition away from fossil fuels.
Central to the strategy is Regional Skills Pilots being launched in Aberdeen, Cheshire, Lincolnshire, and Pembrokeshire, areas identified as growth hubs for the clean energy sector.
Regional skills pilots to target key areas
These regions will receive funding to assess local needs and develop targeted training programmes. This could include new training centres, updated courses, and career advisory services focused on electrical engineering, welding, and infrastructure construction.
The transition to clean energy is expected to generate tens of thousands of jobs. National Grid has projected to support around 55,000 roles by the end of the decade, while SSE Transmission’s plans could lead to 37,000 jobs, including 17,500 in Scotland.
SP Energy Networks, part of Scottish Power, plans to double its transmission workforce, creating 1,400 jobs and supporting 11,000 across the UK. All these plans are pending regulatory approval.
The government is also investing in infrastructure to support the clean energy shift. A recent £55 million investment into the Port of Cromarty Firth aims to develop the area into a major hub for floating offshore wind, creating hundreds of skilled jobs.
Boosting the economy with clean energy
Contracts were also signed in the North East in December as part of the UK’s carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) programme is expected to support thousands of new jobs following a £21.7 billion commitment.
The clean energy sector is already proving to be a high-growth area.
According to CBI Economics, jobs linked to net zero initiatives grew by 10% last year. Average salaries in the sector now stand at £43,000, significantly higher than the national average.
Training to support young people and workers
To ensure young people are ready for these opportunities, the government is launching new tools such as the Your Apprenticeship app, co-designed with apprentices to give easy access to support and resources. The Skills Passport initiative will also help oil and gas workers transition to renewable roles, particularly in offshore wind.
The government’s Get Britain Working white paper, launched last year, outlines major reforms to employment support systems. This includes modernising Jobcentres, launching a Youth Guarantee to ensure every young person can earn or learn, and creating a more personalised employment service.
A new Office for Clean Energy Jobs and the recently established Skills England will coordinate efforts to align skills development with the clean energy industry’s needs over the next decade.
With the clean energy sector already contributing £83 billion annually to the UK economy, the government believes further investment and a skilled workforce can unlock an additional £40 billion in yearly investment. Apprenticeships alone are estimated to generate £25 billion in lifetime economic value.
