The Government has unveiled a national plan to create 400,000 green energy jobs within the next five years, in what ministers say will be one of the most significant workforce transitions in modern British history.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the programme aims to double the number of people working in the UK’s low-carbon sector by 2030, with a sharp focus on equipping tradespeople, school leavers, ex-service personnel and workers leaving fossil fuel industries with the skills needed to support the transition to net zero.
At the core of the initiative is a commitment to prioritise 31 skilled trades, including plumbers, carpenters, electricians and welders. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 additional plumbers and heating engineers will be required by 2030, while between 4,000 and 8,500 extra electricians, welders and carpenters will also be needed to meet growing demand from renewable energy projects.
The Government has pledged that firms receiving public contracts or green energy grants will be expected to create “good quality, secure jobs” and support trade union recognition and collective bargaining across the sector, including in offshore roles.
“The national plan answers a key question about where the good jobs of the future will come from,” Miliband said, adding that it provides a clear signal to regional mayors, industry and education providers about future employment needs. He argued that the blueprint would help underpin local industrial strategies and ensure further education institutions realign course provision with high-growth green sectors.
Trade unions, including Unite and the GMB, which have long pushed for a detailed plan for a “just transition” away from fossil fuels, welcomed the move. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Well paid, secure work must be at the heart of any green transition. Unite members will welcome the commitment to 400,000 green jobs with strong collective bargaining rights.”
Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, national officer at the GMB, described the plan as a “jobs-first transition” and praised ministers for listening to workers.
To support the expansion of the green economy, five new technical excellence colleges will be established to train young people for specialist roles in sectors such as wind power, hydrogen, nuclear and electrical networks. Pilot programmes in Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire will receive £2.5 million for new training centres, courses and careers support.
Additional schemes will focus on transitioning experienced oil and gas workers, supported by up to £20 million in joint funding from the UK and Scottish governments. Veterans will be matched with new roles in solar, wind turbine and nuclear facilities, while tailored initiatives will support ex-offenders, school leavers and the long-term unemployed.
Government analysis suggests that more than 13,700 unemployed individuals already possess transferable engineering and skilled trade capabilities relevant to clean energy roles. Miliband highlighted that salaries in wind, nuclear and electrical network roles typically exceed £50,000 — substantially higher than the national average of £37,000 — and are often located in coastal and post-industrial regions in need of economic regeneration.
Miliband positioned the plan as a central pillar in the Government’s industrial strategy and a direct response to opposition parties questioning the value and pace of the net zero transition. He accused Reform UK of “waging war on clean energy” and argued that public backing for renewable job creation remains strong.
“This is a massive fight,” he said. “People want the jobs, they want the lower bills, and they understand that clean energy is part of our economic future. I’m confident we can win this argument.”
The initiative marks one of the clearest attempts yet by the Government to link environmental policy with economic opportunity, with Business Matters understanding further investment incentives for green manufacturing and infrastructure may follow in the coming months.
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Government targets 400,000 new green energy jobs in major national skills drive