Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband has set out his department’s objectives and methods for equitably building a clean energy population in his ‘Clean Energy Jobs Plan’, published yesterday (October 19).
The Document of 80 pages says the government wants to create a new generation of skilled jobs located in every corner of the country, with decent wages and the very best workers’ rights.
“Someone is going to win the global race for the clean energy jobs of the future and we are determined that it must be Britain. The jobs on offer are enormous,” it says, saying Britain will be a world leader in talent in the clean energy sector by 2030.
However, it admitted that Britain has fallen behind. Germany, Sweden and Denmark have three to five times as many renewable energy jobs per capita, says the Jobs Plan, based on data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report also suggested that Britain has seen ‘significant underinvestment’ in the sector compared to European peers.
Key results: Delivering a pipeline for skilled workers
To deliver the skilled workforce pipeline, the government says it will align the skills system and employment support with the sectors of the Industrial Strategy, including Clean Power 2030. That includes an additional £1.2 billion per year to support skills development over the course of the parliament, including more than £100 million for the Engineering Skills Package.
Five Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs) will also be established that will specialize in training a skilled workforce in clean energy for local and national companies, in addition to the ten already confirmed TECs for the construction sector.
Britain already has a large workforce in the energy sector, but this is largely focused on the North Sea oil and gas sector. The Government will provide up to £20 million in funding from the UK and Scottish Governments to support the transition of North Sea workers to clean energy sectors.
It will also provide up to £2.5 million in funding over the 2025-2026 period for regional skills interventions in Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire, supporting those looking to make the transition to the clean energy sector. All three provinces have many large-scale development activities in the field of solar energy.
It will also work with trade bodies RenewableUK and Offshore Energies UK to expand the network Passport for energy skillsdevelop and promote new routes for veterans into clean energy and work with the Department for Work and Pensions to encourage employment system reforms that deliver results for the clean energy sector.
Ensuring that ‘clean energy jobs are always good jobs’
To ensure jobs are well paid and have good worker rights, the government will support greater trade union recognition and promote collective bargaining across the clean energy sector.
This includes developing a fair work charter with the wind sector and unions, and embedding the role of unions in policymaking through various forums and partnerships.
It will also seek to improve the inclusivity and visibility of clean energy employment through a new Social Inclusion Forum and an industry-led public awareness campaign.
Delivering regional equity
The Jobs Plan also says the government will provide funding – although it does not say how much – to local Net Zero Hubs to work with local authorities to build a regional picture of clean energy skills and jobs.
It will co-develop guidance for the Clean Energy Superpower Mission and clean energy skills to support the next cycle of local skills improvement plans, and establish a Skills Forum and a Net Zero Network to bring together representatives from Industrial Strategy Zones across the UK.
The Government will also work closely with local growth plans and use the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) Local Net Zero Delivery Group and Mayoral Roundtables to identify opportunities for collaboration and coordination between central and regional government.
