The Government has unveiled a national plan to create 400,000 green energy jobs within the next five years, in what ministers say will be one of the most significant workforce transitions in modern British history.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the programme aims to double the number of people working in the UK’s low-carbon sector by 2030, with a sharp focus on equipping tradespeople, school leavers, ex-service personnel and workers leaving fossil fuel industries with the skills needed to support the transition to net zero.
At the core of the initiative is a commitment to prioritise 31 skilled trades, including plumbers, carpenters, electricians and welders. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 additional plumbers and heating engineers will be required by 2030, while between 4,000 and 8,500 extra electricians, welders and carpenters will also be needed to meet growing demand from renewable energy projects.
The Government has pledged that firms receiving public contracts or green energy grants will be expected to create “good quality, secure jobs” and support trade union recognition and collective bargaining across the sector, including in offshore roles.
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