Energy firm wants to attract diverse talent

Perth-based energy giant SSE has said it aims to attract more diverse talent into the UK energy industry.

SSE has joined forces with fellow utility employers to form the energy and utilities skills partnership, which is committed to plugging the 220,000 expected skills gap by 2027, and improve inclusion across the industry.

Women, people with disabilities, the BAME (black and Asian minority ethnic) community and under 24s are all under-represented in the energy and utilities sector, and the partnership’s workforce renewal skills strategy aims to tackle this.

Colin Nicol, SSE’s managing director of networks and EU Skills Council member, said:“There’s no quick fix or one-off initiative to build a more diverse workforce.

“It requires systemic change to give the best opportunity to attract, retain and develop the broadest range of talent.

“Action, not words alone will drive diversity and this commitment is backed up with tangible outputs from all organisations involved to bring about the change we need.”

SSE has said it is committed to improving diversity across its workforce, and has invested in a three-year strategy to make changes at every level of the organisation, and encourage people from all walks of life to consider a career in energy.

Nick Ellins, chief executive of the energy and utility skills group, said:“Through the inaugural skills strategy, led by the energy and utilities skills partnership, the UK’s utilities and their contractors have set out their ambition to enhance the diversity of their workforces and be ever more inclusive. “This new commitment is a framework. “It starts the collective action to help the sector workforce better mirror the communities it serves and secure the unquestionable benefits that result from having vibrant, truly inclusive and diverse teams.

“There is a huge opportunity to educate and develop a diverse, skilled workforce fit for the future.”