Offshore wind may fund skills

UK proposals suggest companies should pay for training.

A Fair Work Charter has been set out in proposals published by the government that will require offshore wind developers to pay into a skills fund or spend a minimum amount on skills training in their local communities to support oil and gas workers, apprentices or school leavers move into the offshore wind industry.

Skills training could be provided through education schemes, training facilities, new equipment or work experience and internships.

The measures would be introduced through the Clean Industry Bonus, which provides offshore wind developers with funding on the condition that they build new factories in deprived regions or invest in more sustainable supply chains to drive economic growth. 

These reforms will be included in the government’s renewables auction in 2026, known as Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 8 subject to consultation. 

The consultation will also seek views on the introduction of onshore wind into the Clean Industry Bonus to help turbocharge its deployment in the UK after years of stagnation due to the de-facto ban under the previous government.

This follows the government’s launch of the first ever onshore wind strategy earlier this year, as the sector is estimated to support up to 45,000 jobs in Great Britain by 2030.  

These reforms will be included in the government’s flagship renewables auction in 2026, known as Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 8 subject to consultation.