Thank you to everyone who attended the 2024 Energy & Utility Skills Conference and Awards.
The event brought together industry leaders, experts, and key stakeholders to address the critical challenges and opportunities in the energy and utilities sector. With the UK aiming for Net Zero by 2050, the conference focused on bridging the skills gap, fostering collaboration, and driving excellence within the industry. The event featured speeches, panel discussions, and valuable networking opportunities for guests.
Launch of the 2030 Workforce Demand Report
The conference featured the launch of the 2030 Workforce Demand Report, highlighting the urgent workforce challenges facing the sector over the next six years. The report outlines the requirements for the UK to achieve its goal of becoming a clean energy superpower, estimating a need for over 312,000 new workers by 2030, with 52% of these roles requiring low to mid-level skills.
For more insights, please refer to the 2030 Workforce Demand Reports here.
Addressing the Skills Gap
Mark Wild, CEO of SGN and Chair of the Energy & Utility Skills Partnership CEO Council, delivered a keynote on the pressing skills shortage, stressing the need to attract and develop talent in a highly competitive market. He called for immediate action to influence government policy and better align national skills initiatives with industry demands.
Opportunities in Net Zero and Environmental Goals
Phil Beach CBE, CEO of Energy & Utility Skills, led discussions on the sector’s challenges and opportunities in achieving Net Zero. He emphasized the need for a demand-led skills system to supply the workers required by 2030, advocating for stronger collaboration between government, employers, and unions to deliver a more agile and responsive skills framework.
Skills and Education Landscape
The panel highlighted the critical need for a competency framework that emphasises skills over job titles and fosters partnerships between industry and government to tackle the growing workforce gap.
Apprentice Panel
The apprentice panel highlighted the vital role apprenticeships play in shaping the future of the sector’s workforce. The apprentices shared their journeys, the challenges faced, and accomplishments achieved within the energy and utilities sector.
Regulators Panel
The regulators panel continued to show how collaboration and trust is critical. All businesses have a role in attracting the next generation to our industry, including the regulators.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The panel focused on the importance of attracting, retaining, and progressing diverse talent to meet the sector’s employment needs.
With women making up just 30% of the sectors workforce and individuals from an ethnic minority background just 12.3% this requires the sector to work collaboratively and with key stakeholders to challenge, share best practice, and to measure progress in working towards a sector that is inclusive and reflects the communities the sector serves.
The 2024 Energy & Utilities Inclusion Measurement Framework is now open for data submission. Register here.
Sector Attraction
Panellists explored strategies to enhance the sector’s visibility and appeal, emphasising collaboration to showcase diverse opportunities available and to address the urgent need for skilled workers.
Energy & Utility Skills Awards
The day concluded with an evening dinner and awards ceremony to celebrate the outstanding individuals and organisations that are shaping the future of the industry.
Find out who won each award here.
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Thank you to our sponsors and exhibitors
