The United Kingdom’s Conservative led government has revealed it plans to treble the number of skilled jobs in its offshore wind sector to 27,000 by 2030, as it readies to publish a deal outlining support for the industry.
The offshore wind deal will be the 10th so-called sector deal announced by the government as part of its industrial strategy to intervene in key sectors to tackle weak productivity and bolster businesses ahead of Brexit.
Reuters Newsagency reports as part of the deal, the government will seek to boost the number of women in the industry.
A statement from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said it was planned to increase the number of women to at least 33 per cent of the workforce by 2030 up from around 16 per cent currently.
Reuters reports Britain is already the world’s biggest offshore wind market, hosting almost 40 per cent of all globally installed wind capacity.
Ahead of the official launch the government signalled it will aim to more than triple the number of people working in the offshore wind sector over the next decade, taking employment levels from 7200 today to 27,000 jobs by 2030.
The deal is also expected to include a number of initiatives to accelerate the development of the UK’s offshore wind industry supply chain and skills base.
Specifically, the plans are set to include closer ties between the industry and educational institutions and targets for increasing the number of apprenticeships the industry offers.
It will also include the introduction of a new Offshore Energy Passport, which would be recognised outside the UK and would help offshore wind workers transfer their skills and expertise to other offshore renewable and oil and gas industries.
“The move to a cleaner, greener economy is outlined in our modern Industrial Strategy as one of the greatest economic opportunities of our time,” said Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry.
“Working with the offshore wind industry, I want to ensure that women and young people benefit from this sea-change.”
