We must face up to the challenge of training tomorrow’s clean energy workforce

A government plan for companies to pay for the training of new workers in offshore wind has been welcomed by Prospect.

A proposed Fair Work Charter, working with unions and business, will require offshore wind developers to pay into a skills fund, or to spend a minimum amount on skills training in their local communities, to support oil and gas workers, apprentices or school leavers who wish to make the move into the UK’s growing offshore wind industry.

It is also proposing better workforce protection for offshore wind workers, with stronger access to trade unions.

Prospect Senior Deputy General Secretary Sue Ferns OBE said:

“Transitioning to a clean energy future will mean tens of thousands of new jobs being created across the UK, and it is welcome to see a clear commitment from the government that these should be good quality, unionised jobs.

“Training the clean energy workforce of tomorrow is one of the biggest challenges we face, and it is only fair that renewables developers that rely on this labour contribute to skills programmes.

“While progress has been made on unionisation in renewables, there is still more to do, and Prospect has been calling for the strongest possible signal from government that they expect companies receiving public money or incentives as part of government energy procurement to work with and recognise trade unions.”

It is estimated that by 2030, offshore wind will support up to 100,000 jobs, with many of those outside of London in coastal and rural parts of the country.