On 10 September 2024, over 400 attendees joined us at the Energy & Utility Skills Conference and Awards. Energy & Utility Skills CEO, Phil Beach, opened the conference and led the session ‘The Skills Opportunities of Net Zero and Environmental Goals,’ addressing key challenges and the potential for collaboration among government, employers, and unions to drive change.
The event saw the launch of the Workforce Demand Reports, highlighting significant skills challenges in the energy and utilities sector over the next six years. These reports emphasize the workforce needed for the UK to achieve its clean energy goals. With over 205,000 new jobs expected and more than 105,000 workers projected to retire by 2030, the sector will need over 312,000 new employees.
Industry leaders and experts then discussed the data in the reports, underscoring the increasing demand for skilled workers and the need to focus on recruitment, development, and retention, with an emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). For more details and strategic insights, please see: Energy and Utilities Sector Workforce Demand Estimates – 2024 to 2030 – EU Skills
In closing the conference, Phil Beach emphasized the need for an agile, demand-led skills system, highlighting the introduction of Skills England as a key opportunity to improve apprenticeship flexibility and delivery. Phil stated, “We need an additional 200,000 people in the energy and utilities sector by 2030 to deliver the Government’s missions.”
The event concluded with an evening dinner and awards ceremony celebrating outstanding contributions to the industry. Phil Beach said, “Our judges had quite a challenge in selecting our finalists and winners and we thank them for their support. We would like to congratulate our finalists, and of course, our winners, on your achievements and success.” Find out who won each Award here.
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