Vince Cable, the business secretary, had some good news for umbrella company contractors recently when he revealed the government’s plans for the renewable energy sector.
Dr Cable is looking to expand the energy sector and explained that people with specialist skills in the oil and gas sector will be able to utilise their skills in the renewable energy industry. Britain has to support low carbon industries, such as automotive, construction and offshore wind if we are to meet our carbon reduction targets.
Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister, has already said that oil will dominate the economy north of the border for many years to come and provide employment for many thousand Scots. And further good news for contractors in Scotland came with the news that ScottishPower intends to invest £5 billion in the electricity network over the coming 10 years.
This investment will create around 300 new jobs, including opportunities for distribution and transmission engineers and system design specialists.
The energy company will also create at least 50 new apprenticeships and 50 additional graduate scheme places as it looks to encourage a new generation of engineers to enter the industry.
The National Skills Academy for Power has identified that 80% of energy sector employees will retire within the next 15 years. This has prompted ScottishPower to invest £6.5 million in a programme of grassroots skills development over the next couple of years. The aim being to show children still at school, and those in further education, that the energy sector is an attractive career option.
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Image: Wind Power. by ianmunroe
