Thousands of new jobs blowing into the UK

At a time when there is still economic uncertainty and people are discussing the possibility of regressing back to recession, it is good to hear some good news from a great sector. In July we published an article on a big new Siemens wind turbine contract. With recent job news in the market we thought it was time to revisit the sector.

A recent RenewableUK report suggest that there have been 2250 new jobs created in the wind power industry over the last 12 months or so.

The political climate around the wind sector is not massively positive at the moment. The Tories are discussing abandoning investment in the future of wind power. However, chief supporters of the technology claim that it is the most cost-effective of all the renewable energy sources. It is, of course, certainly clean.

Over 15,000 direct jobs.

The majority of the jobs in the wind sector are for skilled people with degrees in scientific and technical fields. They are good jobs. With the rise of jobs in the sector. There are now around 15,500 direct jobs onshore and offshore, driven by wind.

As well as the direct jobs. There are of course all the offshoot and interfacing roles that are created by a booming industry. It is estimated that suppliers and other stakeholders in the industry contribute another 15,000 jobs in the UK. As Dan of Express Group, one of the leading financial services recruitment agencies in London points out “with 30,000 jobs directly within or interfacing with the sector in the UK, it is clear that it is becoming a serious industry; an industry that is increasingly requiring finance professionals, sales people, admin and other peripheral roles alongside the more technical jobs.”

Concerns over fossil fuels

Consumers will have been pleased to see the drops in prices at the pumps over recent months. With prices previously close to £1.50 per litre they are now down below £1.20 at most pumps. This is likely to be a temporary reprieve from the generally high prices in transportation and general energy prices. Oil prices have fallen, but for how long?

There have been murmurings from Westminster, and energy scientists, that within a few decades the National Grid will struggle to cope with the energy demands of an ever more energy hungry population. This is a real concern, as without sufficient energy, the UK could be plunged back into the status of a Third World country, unable to provide energy for its businesses or for homes. A dramatic assertion, but nonetheless there is no doubt it would be a serious hammer blow to confidence and productivity.

Time to embrace renewable energy

Over the last year there has been around 1.6 billion invested in offshore, and 1 billion invested in onshore wind power. Although these seem like big numbers, they are a fraction of what is needed to really drive the sector forward. This picture can be seen throughout the renewable energies marketplace. We need to push further in order to drive real and lasting change in the profile of energy consumption in the UK.

Dependence on resources outside of the country has always been a shaky and uncertain strategy. America is currently in the process of becoming energy neutral; meaning they will be producing as much energy as they consume. Their price at the pumps is now cheaper than the cost of milk!

Although this is not a realistic option for UK, certainly not in the foreseeable future, reducing the dependence on imported energy will serve to stabilise the future of the UK.

Time will tell whether the country can reposition itself in the energy sector. There are certainly plenty of impassioned activists trying to promote renewable energy. With more good news about job creation, such as all these new jobs in the wind power sector, the political will, as well as the private sector commitment, will surely increase. As they say, where there is a will there is a way.