Guide published to avoid skills gap becoming ‘detrimental’ to net zero target

The Young Energy Professionals Forum (YEP) has released a guide to jobs in the energy industry, hoping to attract the next generation into the sector.

Covering roles in STEM to careers in innovation and policy-influencing areas, the toolkit showcases the sector’s potential, which currently employs 700,000 people across the UK.

Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of Energy UK said:  “Hundreds of thousands of new jobs need to be filled by 2050 and there is a need for people who understand communications, marketing, or have commercial skills, alongside people who can invent things and solve technical issues.”

Speaking on its impact on climate change, Pinchbeck added: “The energy industry will play a vital role in helping the UK decarbonise and yet it is well documented that there is a skills gap that could be detrimental to achieving our net zero target".

Launched in 2013 by Energy UK, the forum looked to bridge the age gap in the sector, welcoming anyone with less than a decade of experience in the industry to join the community.

With around 2,500 members, it hopes to recruit over 200,000 people over the next decade.

“The transition to net zero will require a monumental effort from hundreds of thousands of people to deliver all the new infrastructure we need and solve the challenges ahead of us with innovative ideas," Phil McNally, YEP Forum chair added.

The energy industry currently delivers almost £30bn in gross value with plans to invest a further £100bn in new energy sources over the next decade.

Energy UK members also provide 80 per cent of the UK’s power generation.