The UK government is planning to create 400,000 additional jobs in the clean energy sector by 2030, raising the total to 860,000. This initiative is supported by a national development plan released on 19 October, aimed at training workers for 31 priority occupations. Private investments in this sector have already exceeded £50 billion ($61.04bn) since July 2024, boosting activity from coastal regions to industrial centres.
An industrial response to growing skills demand
For the first time, official workforce estimates have been published to guide coordinated efforts between companies, public authorities and educational institutions. Five new Technical Excellence Colleges will be established, alongside pilot schemes in regions including Pembrokeshire and Cheshire. At the same time, a national programme is coordinating the reskilling of oil and gas sector workers, backed by £20 million ($24.41mn) in joint funding from the UK and Scottish governments.
The plan also includes mandatory social criteria in public procurement contracts. A fair work charter for offshore wind and new workforce conditions in public grants are being introduced to standardise working conditions. The government will extend legal protections to cover energy workers operating beyond UK territorial waters.
Regional focus and wage enhancement
The strategy aims to localise employment opportunities, particularly in post-industrial regions. The Sizewell C nuclear power station is expected to create up to 10,000 jobs at the peak of construction, while the Acorn and Viking carbon capture and storage projects will account for around 35,000 positions. In the North West and Yorkshire, nearly 60,000 people are expected to be employed in energy by the end of the decade.
Clean energy jobs offer salaries significantly above the national average, often exceeding £50,000 ($61,045) per year compared to the national average of £37,000 ($45,972). The plan also targets specific groups such as early school leavers, military veterans, and individuals undergoing career transitions. A dedicated “energy skills passport” is being expanded to streamline the transition to high-demand sectors including nuclear and power grid infrastructure.
Strategic investment across energy infrastructure
Projects supporting this scale-up include major investments in production and storage infrastructure. Iberdrola, through ScottishPower, has doubled its planned UK investment to £24 billion ($29.3bn) between 2024 and 2028. EDF, Centrica, Rolls Royce and Octopus Energy are also involved in nuclear, solar, hydrogen and wind development.
Cross-border interconnectors with Ireland, Germany and Scotland have received regulatory approval. The Eastern Green Link 2 project, supported by National Grid, represents a £4.3 billion ($5.25bn) investment. In Teesside, SeAH Wind has committed £225 million ($274.7mn) to offshore wind component manufacturing, backed by UK Export Finance.
