Offshore wind skills taskforce

The new group aims to ensure that the industry attracts a wide, diverse pool of talent as the number of jobs in offshore wind trebles to 27,000 by 2030.

The Investment in Talent Group, set up by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), includes representatives from leading companies in the sector and from the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments, as well as trade associations and academic institutions.

The launch of the new group is one of a series of initiatives being undertaken by industry and Government as part of the landmark Offshore Wind Sector Deal announced in March. The deal sets out a series of commitments to ensure that offshore wind will be generating at least one-third of the UK’s electricity by 2030, making it the backbone of our future clean energy system, bringing significant economic benefits for the whole country.

The new group will be run by a skills professional funded by the industry, Celia Anderson, who brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She has worked on the national oil and gas talent pipeline with government and industry, and delivered an energy strategy for the East of England, developing routes for apprentices, undergraduates and graduates, as well as former military personnel and jobseekers, into the energy industry in the region.

By Jake Frith