East Midlands is leading the way on Clean Energy Skills 

A major new plan has been launched by the government to boost skills, jobs and investment in the UK’s growing clean energy sector. The East Midlands is set to play a key role with new initiatives to help local people access the training and careers needed to thrive in the clean energy transition. 

The Clean Energy Jobs Plan sets out how government, industry, and local leaders will work together to build a strong pipeline of skilled workers to power the clean energy transition and help meet the UK’s target of becoming net zero by 2050.  

New government analysis shows that by 2030, 830,000 people will be working in the clean energy sector, almost double today’s workforce.  

The plan aims to make sure local people have the right skills and training to access new opportunities in this fast-growing sector.  

Key measures include: 

• Aligning with the governments Industrial Strategy, including clean energy industries; 

• Providing £1.2 billion per year to support skills development across the UK; 

• Investing more than £600 million in the Construction skills package; 

• Creating five Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges to train future clean energy workers.  

Here in the East Midlands, work is already under way: 

• Clean energy is recognised as a high impact sector for growth in the East Midlands Growth Plan, with an aim to deliver 1GW of public sector and community energy projects by 2035;

• The Fusion Skills Collaboration between EMCCA and the UK Atomic Energy Agency is helping to connect employers, universities, and training provider to grow the green workforce;

• The University of Derby have created a roadmap of the future energy skills required to accelerate the transition to clean energy as part of the first year of delivery of the East Midlands Investment Zone programme;

• The region’s Supercluster is driving growth and job creation in clean energy and high-tech sectors across the STEP Fusion prototype at West Burton, the green hydrogen production facility at High Marnham, and the recently announced AI datacentre and nuclear fission power plant at Cottam.  

• From September 2025, East Midlands Institute of Technology, supported by East Midlands Freeport, will run Future Energy Skills Hub courses which provide technical skills tailored to the needs of businesses operating directly in advanced manufacturing and clean energy sectors. 

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “The East Midlands is leading the way in powering Britain’s clean energy future – not just through innovation and investment, but by ensuring everyone in our communities can share in the opportunities this transformation brings. 

“From pioneering fusion technology to investing in innovation through the East Midlands Investment Zone, we’re proving that clean energy isn’t just about tackling climate change – it’s about creating secure, high-quality jobs and a fairer, greener economy for all. 

“By working together with the UK Government and our partners, we’re building on our existing strengths to make sure the East Midlands leads the way in clean energy skills.” 

Clean energy workforce

Most of the clean energy workforce is already employed in other sectors. The plan includes new support to help people transfer their skills into clean energy jobs, such as: 

• Expanding the Energy Skills Passport to make it easier for workers in oil, gas and construction to move into renewables;

• Providing funding for retraining and upskilling in regional pilot programmes across the UK.

The clean energy industry will offer high-quality, secure and well-paid jobs across the UK.  To make this happen, the government is working closely with employers, trade unions and industry to improve pay and job security, strengthen employment rights and introduce a ‘Fair Work Charter’ with the wind energy sector, with a focus on improving inclusivity, giving everyone a chance to build a career in clean energy. 

The plan also ensures every part of the UK benefits from the clean energy transition. Local leaders will be supported to develop workforce plans that match their area’s strength and skills needs. In the East Midlands, this will be delivered in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:  “Communities have long been calling out for a new generation of good industrial jobs. The clean energy jobs boom can answer that call – and today we publish a landmark national plan to make it happen.  

“Our plans will help create an economy in which there is no need to leave your hometown just to find a decent job. Thanks to this government’s commitment to clean energy, a generation of young people in our industrial heartlands can have well-paid secure jobs, from plumbers to electricians and welders. 

“This is a pro-worker, pro-jobs, pro-union, agenda that will deliver the national renewal our country needs.”

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden said: “We’re giving workers the skills needed for switch to clean energy, which is good for them, good for industry – and will drive growth across the nation. 

“Our new jobs plan will unlock real opportunities and ensure everyone has access to the training and support to secure the well-paid jobs that will power our country’s future, as part of our Plan for Change.”