A scheme, endorsed by the UK and Scottish governments, to help workers across the UK’s energy mix, including oil and gas, to find new roles in offshore wind will be launched in January.
The passport is an industry led initiative overseen by RenewableUK and Offshore Energies UK and supported by the UK and Scottish governments which will align standards, recognise transferable skills and qualifications and map out career pathways for suitable roles.
The Co-Chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council Richard Sandford said: “The Energy Skills Passport is a crucial step forward for workers to embrace opportunities in the offshore wind industry.
“It simplifies movement between essential offshore energy sectors, enabling workers to apply their knowledge to the energy transition.
“The milestone highlights effective collaboration between OEUK and RenewableUK, supported by the UK and Scottish Governments”.
The initiative was announced as the UK and Scottish governments have agreed to sign a new agreement to boost Great British Energy’s ambitions to support clean energy supply chains and infrastructure.
The agreement, signed by the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Gillian Martin, and the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, will enable GB Energy to engage with Crown Estate Scotland and other public organisations in Scotland to help develop and deliver supply chains, infrastructure, and other aspects of clean energy which form a crucial part of the green energy revolution.
By developing partnerships with Scottish public bodies in the clean energy sector, Great British Energy can deliver quickly and effectively, avoid duplication, and deliver maximum impact and value for money from Scottish projects, according to the government.
Scotland has a strong pipeline of opportunities and is at the forefront of floating offshore wind development, and Great British Energy is in prime position to help accelerate this work by harnessing expertise in project development, investment and work with local communities, it added.
The move comes as Ed Miliband visits Aberdeen with Great British Energy chair Juergen Maier for the first time since the city was announced as the headquarters for the UK’s new publicly-owned energy company.
Great British Energy has £8.3bn of funding over this Parliament, and work is underway with the energy industry in Scotland to use this for public investment to create new private sector jobs and drive projects in Scotland.
Ahead of the visit, the UK government has also confirmed oil and gas workers will be supported to move more easily into careers in the renewable sector, including offshore wind, as London accelerates delivery of a “skills passport'”
A digital tool for workers is set to be piloted by January 2025.
Miliband said: “Scottish energy workers will power the United Kingdon’s clean energy future – including in carbon capture and storage, in hydrogen, in wind, and with oil and gas for decades to come as part of a fair transition in the North Sea.
“Unlike in the past we are also working closely with the Scottish government with a new agreement to ensure our publicly owned company Great British Energy is primed to accelerate clean energy investment in Scotland.”
Martin added: “We look forward to working with Great British Energy to ensure it delivers real benefits for the people of Scotland and a just energy transition.
“To make sure that no offshore energy workers are left behind, the Scottish Government provided initial funding of £3.7m between 2022 – 2024 for the development of the industry-led Skills Passport.”