Skills body, the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils in Scotland (Alliance Scotland) has given its backing to proposals for the creation of a new fund designed to support Scotland’s emerging renewable energy industry.
Through its 23 constituent Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), the Alliance Scotland represents employers on skills issues in areas ranging from construction to financial services and hospitality to energy.
Giving evidence to a Scottish Government consultation entitled “Securing the benefits of Scotland’s next energy revolution”, the Alliance Scotland has called for a proportion of the proposed “Future Generations Fund” to be invested in the skills needed for Scotland’s renewable energy sector to take off.
Recent research by Scottish Renewables suggests the offshore wind industry alone has the potential to create more than 28,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Scotland, with an additional 20,000 jobs created through indirect and induced effects by 2020.
At the same time, there is already evidence that the renewable energy industry is facing difficulties in finding suitably skilled workers to fill vacancies in roles including project managers, electrical engineers and turbine technicians.
A recent study by renewable energy industry trade body RenewableUK found more than 25% of green energy employers struggling to fill certain roles, compared with just 3% in 2008.
Jacqui Hepburn, Director of the Alliance for Sector Skills Councils in Scotland, commented: “It is clear that the renewable energy industry offers huge potential for future employment and economic growth in Scotland. The Scottish Government is to be commended for recognising this potential and for planning ahead to make it happen.
“The next few years will be crucial since many of these industries may not truly begin to take off until the middle of the decade. By that point, we need to have in place enough people with the right skills to meet a major spike in labour demand.
“In particular, the creation of a fund along the lines of the Future Generations Fund set out in this consultation paper would enable necessary up-front investment in skills to be made, allowing the renewable energy sector to address existing and emerging skills shortages and to fully realise its potential.”
Ms Hepburn concluded: “An emerging new industry such as renewable energy needs to be nurtured and putting in place the right skills is a key ingredient for success.”
(GK)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Construction News
21/02/2011
Skills Body Endorses Future Generations Fund For Renewable Energy
Latest Construction News
01/05/2024
GRAHAM has announced the start of construction work on a new £59m low-carbon development in Edinburgh which combines student flats, build-to-rent and affordable homes. The Burnet Point scheme in Abbey Lane is the first-ever mixed-use residential development of its kind by Unite Students, one of ...
01/05/2024
A groundbreaking ceremony has marked the start of the next major phase of works on the replacement development at Liberton High School. Contractor Balfour Beatty welcomed Head Teacher Alison Humphreys, current high school and primary school pupils who will be educated at the new school, and ...
01/05/2024
Scottish housebuilder, Springfield Properties, has signed a new £10 million contract to deliver affordable housing for Moray Council. The Group will receive funds from the sale of the land to Moray Council in the current financial year and the design and build phase, which accounts for the vast ...
01/05/2024
Consulting and engineering firm, Wood, has been awarded a new decarbonisation contract by TotalEnergies (TEPUK) to support flare gas recovery in the North Sea. The 23-month contract, part of the Elgin-Franklin Flare Gas Recovery System Project, follows Wood's successful completion of a field study ...
01/05/2024
The CCG Group has welcomed the news that they have received seven nominations across six categories at this year's Scottish Home Awards. The Scottish Home Awards is one of the most prestigious in the Scottish housing sector and are set to take place at a glitzy award ceremony on the 13th of ...
01/05/2024
SSEN Distribution has announced month-long programme of infrastructure upgrade works at Loch Ness, to improve the reliability of supplies to over 1,300 homes and businesses, as well as boosting network capacity. The project starts on 2 May and is scheduled to finish by the end of the month. Teams ...
01/05/2024
SSEN Transmission has announced the successful completion of the final phase of the new Port Ann to Crossaig electricity transmission line, after almost three years of construction. Supported on 148 new steel-lattice towers, the new line is designed to be more resilient in extreme weather events, ...
01/05/2024
National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) has been announced as a double winner at this year's British Council of Offices (BCO) Regional Awards for Scotland. The project – developed by Morrison Construction on behalf of University of Strathclyde – was successful in the Corporate Workplace ...
01/05/2024
Perth & Kinross Council has announced that a restoration project on Crieff's 130-year-old Murray Fountain will get underway this month, The improvement project, which was announced last year, will see the James Square landmark's masonry repaired and repointed, as well as electrical works to ...
01/05/2024
The Scottish Government has launched a public consultation on proposals to replacing the UK Government's Industrial Injuries Scheme in Scotland. Views are sought on how the Scottish Government's planned Employment Injury Assistance should be delivered and on the next steps for introducing this ...