Friday 2 November 2018

Aura and its partners are launching the findings of the ‘Skills and Labour Requirements of the UK Offshore Wind Industry 2018 to 2032’ report – a national study with a focus on the Humber region. The study, funded by the Regional Growth Fund Green Port Growth Programme and carried out by Energy & Utility Skills, is based on a review of existing and new quantitative data, as well as a qualitative input from leading offshore wind (OSW) organisations. It sets out the extent of the workforce supply and demand requirements over the next 15 years, to 2032.

The offshore wind industry is growing rapidly and is on its way to becoming a mainstream provider of low-carbon electricity for the country, thereby helping to ensure that the UK meets its climate change targets. In order to deliver on the ambitions that the industry has set itself, it is going to need many more skilled people to join its workforce.

Based on government and industry estimates that installed OSW capacity in the UK could be 35GW, or five-fold its existing levels, by 2032, the study’s main findings include:

- the requirement for workers is set to increase from 10,000 today to 36,000 by 2032;

- the OSW sector will be operating in a very tight labour market over the coming years and there will be fierce competition for talent;

- skills shortages could become more prevalent and the industry is going to need a wide range of skills sets – from asset management, leadership, engineering and scientists through to the softer skills such as team working and problem solving;

- the industry needs to work with the educational system now to ensure that the right skills and talents come through the system at all levels over the coming years – from schools and apprenticeships to higher education and continual professional development for those already well along in their careers;

- many of the job opportunities will be focused on the East Coast of the UK where the wind farms are located.

PDF copies of the Summary Study report and the Full Study report are available on the Aura website.