UK Launches Major Skills Drive to Fill Clean Energy Jobs Boom

The UK government has launched a national initiative to train and recruit hundreds of thousands of workers for roles in the clean-energy sector. The push aims to meet rising demand driven by investments in renewables and nuclear power. 

Key trades such as plumbing, electrics and welding will be especially targeted. The plan includes five new specialist colleges and a national placement programme for jobs in wind, solar and nuclear industries. 

The drive also offers opportunities for school-leavers, ex-offenders, the unemployed and those transitioning from the oil and gas sector. By 2030, the government plans to double clean-energy jobs to 860,000. 

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the jobs boom answers the call for “a new generation of good industrial jobs.” He added the move supports the UK’s goals to decarbonize electricity by 2030 and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. 

The scheme also aims to ensure that companies receiving public funding offer fair pay and strong workplace protections across the sector. The government plans to more than double clean-energy investment, aiming to exceed £30 billion per year by 2035.