Jessica O'ConnorWorkers in coastal towns and industrial regions could see greater job security and training opportunities under new government proposals designed to ensure the UK’s clean energy transition delivers high-quality employment.
Published on Saturday (23rd August), the proposals set out a new Fair Work Charter for the offshore wind industry.
Developers would be required either to pay into a skills fund or spend a minimum amount on local training, helping oil and gas workers, apprentices and school leavers transition into offshore wind roles.
The Government said the measures would support its target to make offshore wind the backbone of the UK’s clean energy supply by 2030, a sector expected to support up to 100,000 jobs.
Salaries in the industry are estimated to be around £10,000 above the UK average, with 90% of oil and gas workers’ skills transferable to renewables.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Britain’s clean energy future will be powered by secure, unionised jobs for local people right across the country – from East Anglia to Teesside and Aberdeen.
“We’re backing businesses that invest in working people in these communities, securing a route to long-term careers for oil and gas workers, apprentices and school leavers, as we deliver our Plan for Change.”
Unions welcomed the announcement but stressed the importance of ensuring training and employment protections are embedded across the industry.
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “A highly skilled, fairly paid and secure clean energy workforce is essential to tackling climate change.
“This initiative offers a chance to boost skills, create and protect well-paid jobs, and support the renewal of coastal communities and industrial regions.”
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey added: “We welcome the commitments to make trade union recognition and strong pro-worker standards a part of offshore wind contracts, covering re-training, protecting pay, and working conditions.
“That will give our members confidence that their livelihoods will be protected through these turbulent times.”
Prospect senior deputy general secretary Sue Ferns OBE said training the clean energy workforce would be “one of the biggest challenges we face,” adding that renewables developers must contribute to skills programmes to ensure future jobs are both high-quality and unionised.
