New five-year jobs plan aims to double UK’s Clean Energy workforce and boost regional economies

The Government has announced an ambitious plan to recruit and train over 400,000 workers for the UK’s growing green energy sector, marking one of the most significant workforce initiatives in decades.

The Clean Energy Jobs Plan, unveiled on Sunday, outlines a five-year strategy to double the clean energy workforce while supporting the transition away from fossil fuels. Ministers said the scheme will provide “good industrial jobs” in communities across the UK, particularly in traditional industrial heartlands.

Under the plan, the Government has identified 31 priority occupations most in demand — including plumbers, electricians, welders, and engineers — with targeted investment to meet labour shortages in renewable energy, carbon capture, and nuclear power.

Five new “technical excellence colleges” will be established to train the next generation of clean energy professionals, while existing workers will be offered retraining opportunities to move into green industries.

A separate initiative will match armed forces veterans, ex-offenders, school leavers, and the unemployed with opportunities in sectors such as solar power, wind energy, and nuclear operations.

Up to £20 million will be invested to “upskill” oil and gas workers so they can transition into low-carbon roles, with the Energy Skills Passport — originally designed for offshore workers — expanded to include nuclear power and the electricity grid.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband described the move as a “clean energy boom” that will transform local economies and provide well-paid, long-term employment.

“Communities have long been calling out for a new generation of good industrial jobs,” Mr Miliband said. “Our plans will help create an economy in which there is no need to leave your hometown just to find a decent job.”

“Thanks to this government’s commitment to clean energy, a generation of young people in our industrial heartlands can have well-paid, secure jobs — from plumbers to electricians and welders.”

According to the plan, Scotland could gain up to 40,000 new jobs by 2030, while Wales and Northern Ireland are projected to add 15,000 and 2,500 respectively. The North of England could benefit from as many as 60,000 new jobs over the next five years.

Trade unions are expected to play a central role in the rollout, with the Government committing to a new “fair work charter” between offshore wind developers and unions to guarantee good wages and strong worker protections for publicly funded projects.

Officials will also move to close legal loopholes that currently exclude some offshore energy workers from UK employment rights, including the national minimum wage, when working beyond territorial waters.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the plan would help both the workforce and the wider economy:

“We’re giving workers the skills needed to switch to clean energy, which is good for them, good for industry, and will drive growth across the nation.”

“Our new jobs plan will unlock real opportunities and ensure everyone has access to the training and support to secure the well-paid jobs that will power our country’s future.”

The initiative is part of the Government’s wider goal to decarbonise the UK’s electricity grid by 2030, a target that will rely heavily on expanding nuclear, wind, and solar generation.

The Government says its approval of the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk will support 10,000 jobs during peak construction, while the Rolls-Royce small modular reactor (SMR) programme will create 3,000 roles. Meanwhile, carbon capture and storage projects — including Acorn in Scotland and Viking in the North East — are expected to generate 35,000 jobs combined.

Christina McAnea, general secretary of Unison, welcomed the announcement, calling it “a vital step in building a skilled and secure workforce.”

“Extra investment for retraining will mean experienced staff already employed in the sector can take on new roles. Additional funding for apprenticeships and opportunities for young people are crucial if the UK is to have a bright and clean energy future.”

Sue Ferns, deputy general secretary of Prospect, also praised the plan but urged the Government to go further.

“The challenge of training new workers and supporting existing ones requires more resources and greater coordination across departments,” she said. “This plan is a welcome step in the right direction, but the scale of transformation needed is immense.”

The Clean Energy Jobs Plan is expected to be formally introduced in Parliament later this year, with recruitment for the first technical college intake beginning in 2026.