We must address skills shortage in our world-renowned energy sector

A column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@theherald.co.uk

WE should be proud of Scotland’s energy sector. We were one of the first countries in the world to harness electricity from our waters. At present, Scotland boasts 25 per cent of Europe’s offshore wind resources; we hold an estimated 25 per cent of Europe’s tidal energy potential and 10 per cent of its wave energy potential.

The UK has an excellent track record in nurturing talent to develop our resources and export expertise, so our existing work force is world class. We have the technology, infrastructure, and resources – natural and fossil – beyond the vast majority of our European neighbours.

However, the context is changing. Across all sub-sectors of our energy industry, debates are being had that strike to the heart of what the future will look like. This ranges from restructuring within the oil and gas industry caused by the sharp decline in global prices to plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations.

How best to foster the growth of the renewables sector is another key issue, and then there is the role played by emerging technologies such as carbon capture and storage.

The increase in coverage devoted to all of these issues across our media reflects the growing importance placed on securing our future energy supply.

One key area of this debate affecting all energy sub-sectors is skills. Our existing workforce is ageing, with new entrants not joining the sector promptly enough. Some reports suggest that 72 per cent of energy employers are having difficulty finding quality candidates to fill their positions.

This has implications not just for energy sector firms. It has an impact on our entire economy but it presents opportunities as well as risks.

It’s essential that we encourage more young people – who are often more interested than they are given credit for being – to seek out careers in the energy sector with the objective of solving the ongoing “trilemma” of balancing carbon emissions, energy costs and security of our energy supply. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is committed to working with all sub-sectors of the industry to ensure it can access the skills it needs in order to capitalise on future opportunities.

This lies at the heart of the refreshed skills investment plan for Scotland’s energy sector.

Themes of the plan include encouraging more young to engage in the range of opportunities offered by the sector; developing pathways to allow more people to enter the sector; helping to ensure that education and training meets the needs of industry; improving the skills of the existing workforce; and tackling the gender imbalance that exists.

Energy Skills Scotland works as part of SDS to further these themes, acting as a focal point for the industry to address its future skills needs.

It ranges from encouraging more graduates to consider a career in the energy sector to encouraging more businesses to use modern apprenticeships as a way of developing future talent.

Considerable success has been achieved in this respect in recent times, and helping education and enterprise to work together lies at the heart of much of this success.

For example we have formed a partnership with Glasgow Science Centre to deliver a five-year exhibition called Powering the Future, which is shining a spotlight on the science and technology underpinning the future of our energy supply.

Through a series of 60 fun, interactive and thoughtful exhibits, school students will be able to develop their understanding of the real-world applications of what they learn in the classroom, enhancing their learning and introducing them to the skills and knowledge needed for working in the energy sector.

It’s only through working with younger generations that we can equip ourselves for the long-term challenges and opportunities presented by our immediate and future energy needs.

Powering the Future is one of the most ambitious exhibitions ever mounted in the UK tackling the public’s understanding of energy use and it can play an important role in helping younger visitors in particular consider what role they can play in meeting the country’s and, indeed, the world’s future energy requirements. Mike Duncan is director of Energy Skills Scotland. www.glasgowsciencecentre.org