The Government recently said it wants to generate enough wind energy to power every home in the UK by 2030. If met, the ambitious plans mean that the UK will be less reliant on foreign energy sources.
According to the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), more than 69,000 jobs will be created and there will be £60 billion in private investment in UK offshore wind by 2026. The research suggests that the number of people working in direct and indirect jobs in the UK’s world-leading offshore wind industry will rise significantly, from 26,000 to over 69,800 by 2026.
The North will see the most significant rises as job creation will be dominated by parts of the country which urgently need levelling up, including North East of England, Yorkshire, and The Humber, East Anglia, and Scotland.
Unsurprisingly, over 80% of offshore wind jobs are currently located outside of London and the South East. The windy coastlines of Scotland make up the highest proportion at 30%, Yorkshire and The Humber sits at 15%, and the North East of England sits at a steady 10%.
The forecasted growth shows that regional percentages will be maintained at this level as jobs increase over the decade, delivering long-term sustainable growth.
New jobs created will cover a wide range of roles, including engineers, project managers, turbine technicians, and component manufacturers. A whopping 79% of these jobs are highly-skilled, technical, and management roles.
Interestingly, the report also highlights that the industry currently offers a well-balanced range of opportunities for people with skills and qualifications at entry-level, from GCSEs and A-Levels to Higher Education Certificated and Diplomas and university degrees.
The offshore wind industry has huge economic benefits, not to mention the environmental benefits. Government polling suggests around 70% of the British public support wind farm developments.
So, with such ambitious growth plans in the pipeline, there has never been a better time to start a career in renewable energy. The sector is calling out for individuals to join ranks and build a future-proof workforce.
Browse the full list of courses available at Complete Training Solutions here, and do your part for a brighter, greener future.
