Energy Barometer calls for national skills strategy
Government and industry are being urged to unite around a national skills strategy that underpins the development of low-carbon energy and supply chains.
This is a finding from Energy Barometer 2021: the net zero skills issue which sought the opinions of over 400 energy professionals to gauge their views, hopes and fears for the sector.
Despite progress in UK policy, respondents to the Energy Barometer highlight that action to bring on the necessary workforce is pressing given 2030 and 2050 emission reduction goals. They add that progress in this area should not come at a cost to today’s skilled workers and their communities.
In a statement, energy Institute president Steve Holliday FREng FEI said: “A laser focus on policies and initiatives to drive the development of low-carbon technologies is vital, but it must not eclipse the equally important need to support and develop the net zero workforce.
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“We often hear about the long lead times involved in building a new power plant. But the lead times required to bring on a heat pump installer or wind turbine engineer - from inspiring interest in STEM in schools through the necessary apprenticeships and university degrees and into the workforce - are as long if not longer.
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