UK Government to create 40,000 clean energy jobs in Scotland by 2030

The UK Government has promised to recruit over 40,000 workers into clean energy jobs in Scotland by 2030.

Westminster unveiled a national plan to train up the next generation of clean energy workers on Sunday, promising extra jobs across the country by the end of the decade.

Backed by record investment in the sector, the Government said the clean energy economy is “sparking a boom in demand for good industrial jobs in all regions and nations of the UK”.

It expects employment in the sector to double to 860,000 by 2030.

There will be particularly high demand for occupations such as plumbers, electricians and welders, with a goal to bring a “new generation of good industrial jobs” to the UK.

In Scotland, the Acorn carbon capture and storage (CCUS) project in the north east, and the Grangemouth industrial cluster in Falkirk were listed as “significant energy projects” and places for job growth.

It comes as the Scottish Government has announced an £18m boost in funding to help workers transition from fossil fuels.

Holyrood will invest a total of £9m over the next three years to the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund, matched by £9m from the UK Government.

Launched as a pilot programme in June, in response to demand from oil and gas workers, the scheme has received a total of £1.39m funding to date, with at least 300 workers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire set to be supported this financial year.

The additional funding will allow thousands of additional workers to be supported by 2029.

“Scotland’s innovation, expertise and vast renewable energy resources will not only benefit the planet – but deliver new economic opportunities and new jobs for households and communities across the country,” Scottish energy secretary Gillian Martin said.

“This continued and expanded funding to the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund will support more offshore workers to take on different roles across the sustainable energy sector over the next three years – helping to deliver a fair and managed transition to the sector.

“We will continue to explore how best to support Scotland’s energy skills transition, working closely with the UK Government on options like guaranteed interview schemes, redeployment pools and skills passporting.”

UK energy secretary Ed Miliband added: “Communities have long been calling out for a new generation of good industrial jobs.

“The clean energy jobs boom can answer that call – and today we publish a landmark national plan to make it happen.”

The new initiatives include plans to train up the next generation of clean energy workers, with five new technical excellence colleges proposed across the UK.

The Government is also launching a programme to match veterans up with careers in solar panel installation, wind turbine factories, and nuclear power stations

Similarly, tailored schemes for ex-offenders, school leavers, and the unemployed to enter the industry will be rolled out.

Finally, the Government will continue to pursue plans to upskill existing oil and gas workers, who are already in line to benefit from up to £20m from the UK and Scottish Governments to provide career training.

It is extending the “energy skills passport” programme, which identifies routes for oil and gas workers to easily transition into roles in offshore wind, to new sectors including nuclear and the electricity grid.

The plan includes proposals to ensure that jobs in the clean energy sector offer good pay and favourable terms and conditions.