Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) has begun to address the skills shortage in the energy industry with its Wind Turbine Apprenticeship, the first of its kind, but more needs to be done.
The energy industry, particularly renewables, is experiencing job growth and has as many as 70,000 jobs to fill in the next ten years, which means that people need to be receiving the correct training to get them to an operational level upon entering the industry.
EU Skills aims to prepare people fully for work within the industry, as well as upskilling people already working in the sector, its dedicated Wind Turbine Apprenticeship is a perfect example of this.
This apprenticeship, and others like it, is vital to the industry. The energy sector is facing a possible skills crisis in the next decade due to the prospect of losing up to 80% of its workforce, mainly due to retirement. Companies have to become aware of this fact and start acting now to ensure, that in ten years’ time, there are adequately-skilled people to step in.
By 2024, EU Skills’ figures show the power industry needs to recruit 45,000 to 55,000 new employees. Meanwhile its recent study with Renewable UK, ‘Working for a Green Britain and Northern Ireland 2013-2023’, revealed that in the last two years, direct jobs have increased by 74 per cent, to just under 18,500, with a further 16,000 people in related positions.
What’s more, depending on whether high or low growth predictions surrounding the wind and wave power boom occur, between 16,443 and 55,683 direct jobs could be created in that ten-year period.
If the industry is to reduce power losses, meet Government targets and improve efficiency of transmission and distribution systems, it must do more to fill these vacancies. EU Skills believes this can be met by responding to environmental and legal pressures, creating a step change in technology and skills – which the Apprenticeships are designed to achieve.
The UK must adequately prepare itself to avoid a lack of skilled workers within the industry. Apprenticeships are one way to tackle the problem, but there are several other actions that can also be taken, such as placing greater emphasis on STEM subjects. If the take-up of science, technology, engineering and maths can be increased in schools, colleges and universities, then more pupils and students could be channelled into a career in the energy industry.
It would also be good for the economy as a whole to have more Apprenticeships and traineeships on offer. Young people would be able to access a career that could possibly last their entire working life, while averting a shortage of skilled workers within the energy industry.
Ultimately, the prospect of up to 70,000 jobs being created over the next ten years is a great thing for the industry and economy, but it is now down to the Government and people within the industry to ensure that people coming in to fill these jobs are equipped with the right skills and training.
To date, there are 183 students, who have qualified from or are still studying on the Wind Turbine Apprenticeship, hopefully this will continue to grow and help provide skilled workers for the energy industry.
Sarah Johnson is head of renewables at the National Skills Academy for Power
Recommended for you
