The government has unveiled a national plan to create 400,000 green energy jobs over the next five years. This will be one of the most significant staff transitions in modern British history, according to ministers.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the program aims to double the number of people working in the UK’s low-carbon sector by 2030, with a focus on equipping tradespeople, school leavers, ex-military personnel and workers leaving the fossil fuel industry with the skills they need to support the transition to net zero.
At the heart of the initiative is a commitment to prioritizing 31 skilled trades, including plumbers, carpenters, electricians and welders. By 2030, an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 additional plumbers and heating engineers will be needed, while between 4,000 and 8,500 additional electricians, welders and carpenters will be needed to meet the growing needs of renewable energy projects.
The government has pledged that companies awarded public contracts or green energy grants will be expected to create “high-quality, secure jobs” and support union recognition and collective bargaining across the sector, including in offshore positions.
“The national plan answers a key question about where the good jobs of the future will come from,” Miliband said, adding that it sends a clear signal to regional mayors, industry and education providers about future employment needs. He argued the draft would help underpin local industrial strategies and ensure further education institutions target their course offerings towards high-growth green sectors.
Unions including Unite and GMB, which have long pushed for a detailed plan for a “just transition” away from fossil fuels, welcomed the move. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Well-paid, secure work must be at the heart of any green transition. Unite members will welcome the commitment to 400,000 green jobs with strong collective bargaining rights.”
GMB national officer Charlotte Brumpton-Childs described the plan as a “jobs-first transition” and praised ministers for listening to workers.
To support the expansion of the green economy, five new technical schools of excellence will be established to train young people for specialist roles in sectors such as wind power, hydrogen, nuclear power and electricity networks. Pilot schemes in Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire will receive £2.5m for new training centres, courses and careers support.
Other programs focus on transitioning experienced oil and gas workers and are supported by joint funding of up to £20 million from the UK and Scottish Governments. Veterans will be matched with new roles in solar, wind and nuclear facilities, while tailored initiatives will support ex-offenders, school leavers and the long-term unemployed.
Government analysis suggests that more than 13,700 unemployed people already have transferable technical and craft skills relevant to clean energy roles. Miliband highlighted that salaries in the wind, nuclear and electricity grids sectors are typically above £50,000 – significantly higher than the national average of £37,000 – and are often located in coastal and post-industrial regions in need of economic regeneration.
Miliband positioned the plan as a central pillar of the government’s industrial strategy and as a direct response to opposition parties who questioned the value and pace of the transition to net zero emissions. He accused Reform UK of “waging war on clean energy” and argued that public support for job creation in renewable energy remained strong.
“This is a huge fight,” he said. “People want the jobs, they want lower bills and they understand that clean energy is part of our economic future. I’m confident we can win this argument.”
The initiative represents one of the government’s clearest attempts to link environmental policy with economic opportunity, with Daily Sparkz expecting further investment incentives for green manufacturing and infrastructure could follow in the coming months.
