Wind developers to pay for skilled job training

The government has set out proposals requiring offshore wind developers to contribute directly to skills training in local communities, in a move intended to strengthen the workforce needed for the UK’s transition to clean energy.

Under the plans, developers will be expected either to pay into a central skills fund or invest directly in training initiatives in coastal and industrial regions where offshore wind projects are based. The policy forms part of the government’s Plan for Change and seeks to underpin long-term employment opportunities in the sector by ensuring a steady supply of trained workers.

Training could include investment in specialist facilities, new equipment, or the provision of apprenticeships, internships and work placements. The approach is designed to support school leavers, apprentices, and existing oil and gas workers seeking to transition into renewables. Industry estimates suggest that 90% of the current oil and gas workforce has skills that are directly transferable to offshore wind, highlighting the opportunity to redeploy existing expertise into new energy infrastructure.

The government has also published proposals for a Fair Work Charter, co-developed with unions and industry, which would set minimum standards on pay, workplace protections and trade union access. The aim is to ensure that the sector delivers not only growth but also stable, high-quality employment across supply chains.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said offshore wind would be central to Britain’s clean energy future, with the potential to support up to 100,000 jobs by 2030, many of them outside London and the South East. Unions including UNISON, RMT and Prospect have welcomed the move, emphasising the importance of retraining, apprenticeships, and embedding consistent workforce standards across the sector.

The new requirements are expected to be linked to the Clean Industry Bonus, which already provides incentives for offshore wind developers to invest in deprived regions and sustainable supply chains. The consultation will also test whether onshore wind should be brought within the scheme, reflecting the government’s drive to accelerate deployment after a prolonged slowdown in the sector.

Offshore wind is expected to remain the backbone of the UK’s clean energy programme, with developers, contractors and suppliers already heavily engaged in the expansion of turbine manufacturing, maintenance and port infrastructure. By tying investment in projects directly to workforce development, government hopes to ensure the sector delivers long-term regional economic benefits alongside national energy security.

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