The UK government announced the publication of its new Clean Energy Jobs Plan, including initiatives to recruit and train workers for the clean energy economy, targeting an incremental 400,000 green sector jobs by 2030.
According to a government statement, the new plan comes as record government and private sector investment in clean energy in areas including renewables and nuclear is creating a boom in demand for jobs.
The plan highlights 31 priority occupations that are in particular demand, including plumbers, electricians, and welders. The government statement also noted that entry level roles in the majority of occupations in clean energy pay 23% more than the same occupations in other sectors.
New initiatives in the new plan include projects to train the next generation of clean energy workers, with 5 new Technical Excellence Colleges to train young people for essential roles, a new program to match veterans up with careers in solar panel installation, wind turbine factories, and nuclear power stations, and a £20 million investment to upskill oil and gas workers for new clean energy roles, in addition to tailored schemes for ex-offenders, school leavers, and the unemployed.
The plan also includes proposals aimed at ensuring strong pay, terms and conditions for clean energy sector jobs, including extending employment protections enjoyed by offshore oil and gas workers working beyond UK territorial seas to the clean energy sector, a new “new Fair Work Charter” between offshore wind developers and trade unions ensuring that companies receiving public funding provide decent wages and strong workplace rights, and including workforce criteria in grants and procurements.
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:
“Communities have long been calling out for a new generation of good industrial jobs. The clean energy jobs boom can answer that call – and today we publish a landmark national plan to make it happen.”
Click here to access the UK’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan.
