Delivering wind energy’s contribution to the UK’s clean energy ambitions for 2030 depends on the availability of a skilled, competent and sustainable workforce.
Reflecting this shared challenge, RenewableUK, Scottish Renewables and Energy & Utility Skills have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on skills, training and workforce development across the UK’s offshore and onshore wind sectors.
With government targets of 43GW to 50GW of offshore wind and 27 to 29GW of onshore wind capacity, the scale and pace of workforce growth required presents a significant challenge for industry, skills bodies and policymakers.
The MoU provides a clear framework to coordinate strategic leadership, devolved delivery and skills system development. This will help align activity, share intelligence and ensure skills interventions are informed by robust evidence and employers’ needs.
Claire Mack OBE, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said:
“The scale and significance of our energy transition demands close working between all sectors to leverage new approaches on skills, apprenticeships and training. This will benefit not just the energy transition, but the entire economy.
We are delighted to forge a new partnership with Energy & Utility Skills, alongside RenewableUK, to strengthen the collaboration needed to build on our existing skills base and capture the opportunities of the future jobs market.”
Jane Cooper, Deputy Chief Executive at RenewableUK, said:
“We’re pleased to be working closely with Energy & Utility Skills on the development of world-class training standards, high-quality training courses and apprenticeships. These will ensure that we have enough people with the right skills to build the huge pipeline of onshore and offshore wind farms we’re developing in the UK. We’ll also be working on policy issues, such as helping the government to foster social inclusion as part of its Clean Energy Jobs Plan.
We’ll share research, enabling us to continue producing key publications such as our bi-annual Skills Intelligence report which showcases the wind industry’s employment statistics. The industry already supports 55,000 jobs and that’s set to increase to over 110,000 by 2030. Collaborating effectively with Energy & Utility Skills and Scottish Renewables will help us to double the size of our workforce over the next five years”.
Paul Cox, Group Chief Executive, Energy & Utility Skills Group, said:
“For the UK to deliver the clean energy transition at pace and at scale, people, skills and workforce capability must sit at the heart of those ambitions.
This MoU builds on our long-standing relationships with RenewableUK and Scottish Renewables and directly supports our 2025 to 2030 Skills Strategy. It further demonstrates how trade and skills bodies can work seamlessly together to align strategy with delivery.
Through focused, joint action we are strengthening workforce pathways, accelerating high-quality training and apprenticeships, and creating tangible benefits for employers, communities and governments across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
Strengthening alignment of UK and devolved nations’ skills systems
RenewableUK retains strategic oversight under the Offshore Wind Sector Deal while Scottish Renewables leads delivery under the Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal, reflecting the devolved nature of education and skills policy.
As the skills body for the UK energy and utilities industries, Energy & Utility Skills will lead on the development of national occupational standards, apprenticeships and industry-agreed training and assessment frameworks.
From strategy to targeted skills solutions
A central focus of the MoU is developing effective training and assessment standards for new entrants to the wind sector, as well as upskilling and reskilling of the existing workforce.
Recent collaboration shows how this coordinated, employer-led approach works in practice. Energy & Utility Skills led employer engagement to develop occupational profiles for 16 critical offshore wind roles, published by the Offshore Wind Industry Council in partnership with RenewableUK. These profiles clarify skills pathways and support more targeted workforce planning and training investment.
The Wind Industry Skills Intelligence Report 2025, produced by the Offshore Wind Industry Council and RenewableUK, highlights the scale of demand, estimating that around 75,000 workers will be required in offshore wind and 19,000 in onshore wind to meet minimum government targets.
Aligning collaboration with long-term skills strategy
The MoU complements Energy & Utility Skills’ 2025 to 2030 Skills Strategy, aligning skills intelligence, employer engagement and standards development to ensure actions remain evidence-led and sector-focused.
Clear and aligned sector engagement
The MoU supports coordinate engagement with industry, governments and regulators, ensuring consistent messaging and alignment. Reviewed annually, it provides a stable platform for continued collaboration as workforce needs evolve.
Work with us
Energy & Utility Skills brings employers, governments, and training partners together to set industry standards, share evidence, and collaborate on long-term skills solutions that keep the UK’s essential services running. Explore our collaboration page to see how working with us can help drive practical, coordinated action across the UK’s energy, water and waste sectors. Or contact us on 0121 713 8255, or email collaborate@euskills.co.uk.
