The Offshore Wind Industry Council has revealed plans to recruit 3,000 new apprentices to the sector, along with creating a more diverse workforce.
Specifically, the industry aims to recruit more black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) employees by 2030 and to lead the energy industry in BAME representation.
By 2030, it hopes to have 12 per cent of the workforce made up of people from BAME groups, compared to a current representation of 5 per cent in the energy sector overall.
Today’s announcements come on the first anniversary of the offshore wind sector deal in which the government committed to at least 30GW of offshore wind installed by 2030 (up from 8.5GW currently), which will provide more than one-third of the UK’s electricity.
This would enable the offshore wind industry to deliver £48 billion of investment in UK infrastructure, and employ 27,000 people by the end of the decade. Since then, the government has raised its ambition to 40GW.
Energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng will unveil the plans in Parliament.
He said: “The great success of offshore wind in the UK shows what can happen when government and industry work hand-in-hand.
“One year on from the sector deal, and in this year of climate action, it’s great to see these new targets for minority ethnic workers and apprentices to make sure the opportunities provided by new green industries are shared far and wide.”
Industry chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council and vice president UK offshore at Orsted, Benj Sykes, said: “In the first year of the offshore wind sector deal we’ve made great progress on delivering our actions, with a host of new initiatives announced throughout the last twelve months to boost jobs, develop innovative new technology and increase the number of UK companies joining the offshore wind supply chain.
“We’re building the clean energy system of the future which will keep British homes, offices and factories powered up at the lowest cost in the decades ahead, attracting billions in investment and creating export opportunities for UK companies worldwide. And we’re playing a central role in helping the government to reach net zero emissions as fast as possible.”
RenewableUK’s chief executive Hugh McNeal said: “Offshore wind needs the most talented people from every part of society to fill the thousands of highly-skilled jobs we’re creating around the UK as a key part of the sector deal, especially in coastal communities, where economic regeneration is needed most.”
Earlier today BEIS published a paper looking at progress that has been made in the year since the deal was launched. These include:
- Development and establishment of Offshore Wind Growth Partnership
- Development of regional clusters
- Appointment of a Diversity Champion