Investment in skills is as vital as infrastructure if we’re to successfully decarbonise the economy

The National Infrastructure Commission has published its Second National Infrastructure Assessment, which sets out the current state of the UK’s economic infrastructure and identifies key challenges for the coming decades.

 

Amongst the recommendations are measures on boosting grid capacity and securing the skills required to run it effectively.

Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect, said:

“Investing in a grid ready for tomorrow’s clean energy needs won’t just help to decarbonise the economy, it will provide savings to families, higher economic productivity and a better quality of life.

“This report lays bare the state of the UK’s energy infrastructure after years of dither, delay and underinvestment.

“Investment in clean energy jobs to plan, build, and operate this much-needed infrastructure is as critical as investment in the physical network. Workers in our energy networks face a crisis of understaffing, overwork, and skills shortages. Without addressing this, our infrastructure will fall further behind.”