More must be done to attract young people and women to work in Scotland’s energy industry, a new report concludes.
Attracting new entrants will be key to ensuring the future of the country’s oil, gas and renewable sectors, according to Skills Development Scotland (SDS).
It has published an updated skills plan for the industry, setting out priorities for developing the workforce against the backdrop of a fall in oil prices.
The plan includes measures to tackle a gender imbalance in people entering the sector, including encouraging more flexible working.
SDS wants better promotion of science, technology and engineering careers in school as well as more work experience and placement opportunities and increased promotion of modern apprenticeships (MAs).
The document coincides with the third meeting of the energy jobs taskforce, which was set up to support jobs in the energy sector.
Skills and Training Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “Recent months have shown that even the most significant industry requires support to protect jobs and investment.
“While we welcome the overdue changes to the North Sea tax regime announced by the UK government last week, for some it is too late and jobs have already been lost.
“Improved skills are paramount to the next steps on oil and gas exploration with a number of new projects under consideration.
“We need greater awareness of career opportunities at a younger age, more energy MAs as part of our move towards 30,000 each year from 2020 and an end to the outdated idea that engineering and science is just for boys.”
Neville Prentice, of SDS, added: “This plan offers firms of all sizes across the energy sector an opportunity to put skills and workforce development at the centre of their growth strategies.
“For a long time the sector has had to cope with skills shortages, with companies reporting recruitment difficulties in a number of key disciplines.
“Taking the right action now will put the sector in a good position to face up to future challenges and to capitalise as fully as possible on future opportunities.”
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