SSE green job switch for one in five staff
More than one in five employees at Scottish energy group SSE have shifted from high to low-carbon careers, according to new figures.
The Perth-headquartered company, which last week announced plans to enter the Japanese offshore wind market, said at least 1,500 of its employees are now working across low-carbon projects, having previously worked in high-carbon roles.
At its Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm off the Caithness coast, as many as two thirds of the control room staff are former oil and gas workers.
The figures were published as part of an update on the company’s Just Transition Strategy, which was unveiled last year, with the aim that “no one is left behind in the move to decarbonise”.
SSE said work underway at its Peterhead Power Station was a good example of the transition, with the traditional gas-fired station forming part of plans to develop one of the UK’S first power stations equipped with carbon-capture technology.
This year has seen a record intake of ten apprentices who will support the shift from a high to a low-carbon power source, retaining skills in the area whilst creating careers for the future.
As part of its efforts to create green jobs, SSE is delivering billions of pounds of investment in renewables, electricity networks and other infrastructure needed in the journey to net zero.
“Whilst SSE’S Peterhead Power Station epitomises the just transition where the traditional gas-fired station is part of plans to develop one of the UK’S first power stations equipped with carbon-capture technology,” it added.