On the 22nd of January 2025, the government announced further funding to make green skills more available to workers across the nation. Government-backed training programmes will support workers to access jobs in the clean energy sector as part of the ‘Plan for Change‘ and clean energy superpower mission.
Why We Need More Workers With Green Skills
The United Kingdom has set bold targets for a greener, more energy-secure future – one that reduces reliance on the unpredictable global fossil fuel market and embraces clean, self-sustaining energy. In order to achieve this, we must significantly expand our clean energy industry. At the heart of this transformation are green skills – because a sustainable future isn’t possible without the skilled professionals needed to build and maintain it. So, we need to train these skilled workers, which is exactly what these initiatives are designed to do.
This funding aims to deliver a jobs-rich clean energy transition, unlocking £40 billion of annual investment and creating thousands of jobs. According to Offshore Energies UK research, 90% of oil and gas workers already have skills relevant to the clean-energy transition. With the right training and support, we can draw from this pool of skilled professionals to build a workforce for the future.
Key Regions Set To Benefit
The government have identified a few key regions for clean energy growth. These areas will benefit from the funding first. Approximately £1 million will be awarded to:
- North and North East Lincolnshire (via Midlands Net Zero Hub).
- Cheshire West and Chester (via North West Net Zero Hub).
- Pembrokeshire (via Welsh Government).
- (Aberdeen has already conducted skills mapping and will be considered for additional funding later)
These areas have promising offshore wind, nuclear, and solar industries. The funding assigned to these regions will go towards identifying and meeting the skills-support needs of their area – this could be in the form of new training centres, career advisers or training courses.
Further Support for Green Skills
This significant overhaul will require the involvement of everyone. To assist with this, the government has also provided support for employers. They have produced a handbook for employers which highlights available support to grow and upskill their workforce. This includes sector-based work academy programmes to help jobseekers gain the necessary skills for clean power delivery by 2030.
Skills Passport Initiative
The government also delivered the ‘skills passport‘ alongside this funding. Now, workers can create accounts to access career pathways and identify transferable skills, with further pathways to be added over time.
The skills passport is a key part of the government’s push towards a Net-Zero future. This initiative makes it easier for workers to transition into the renewables industry. It records an individual’s skills, training and experience to pave the way to further career opportunities. This aligns standards and helps employers recognise transferable skills.
Could You Get Involved In Green Skills?
Green skills are not just an option for those working in oil and gas. Anyone involved in the energy industry, construction, or even the housing industry has the opportunity to be a part of this thriving field. As previously mentioned, the clean energy transition involves over £40 billion of annual investment and could create thousands of jobs. We need workers to fill these spots!
Could this be the next phase of your career? If so, consider training with Energy Trust.
Energy Trust has been providing training in the energy industry for over a decade. We offer professional, high-quality courses in a number of qualifications. Many of these roles involve energy assessment within the built environment. This is a vital work which underpins countless government energy initiatives. Also, many learners have benefited from our retrofit courses, enabling them to make a difference and improve housing stock across the nation. If you’re interested in getting involved, consider training with Energy Trust. Find out more about us here.