Over the weekend, the UK Government published the Clean Energy Jobs Plan. It sets out a major shift in workforce policy and investment that will significantly affect the Welsh offshore renewable energy sector. The plans key implications are outlined below.
Job Growth and Regional Opportunity
Wales’ clean energy workforce is expected to at least double by 2030, rising from 5,000 – 10,000 direct jobs in 2023 to 15,000 – 20,000. A lot of this growth is expected to come from marine renewables, particularly floating offshore wind and tidal power, alongside wider infrastructure like grid upgrades. The plan emphasises place-based job creation, aiming to deliver high-quality, unionised roles in coastal regions.
Skills and Workforce Development
Major national investment in skills hopes to underpin sector growth, including:
- £1.2 billion per year for skills development, funding 1.3 million training places.
- Creation of five Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges, with targeted skills interventions in areas such as Pembrokeshire.
- Expanded Energy Skills Passport to support workforce transition from oil, gas and other industries into renewables.
31 “priority occupations” – including engineers, project managers, marine technicians and electricians – have been identified as critical to delivering projects, signalling a focus for training and recruitment efforts.
Policy Environment and Supply Chain Growth
The plan aims to align skills policy with deployment targets under Clean Power 2030, giving industry clearer visibility on project pipelines and workforce needs. UK and Welsh governments will co-develop regional workforce plans and link these with Local Skills Improvement Plans, helping to anchor supply chains and port infrastructure investment locally. New employment rights and a fair work charter will strengthen job quality, with specific action to address discrepancies between offshore oil & gas and renewable energy working conditions.
What this means for Marine Renewables in Wales
This plan positions Wales to capture a much larger share of the clean energy jobs boom, particularly in offshore wind and tidal energy. By building a stronger domestic workforce and integrating clean energy into regional economic planning, the policy is likely to accelerate project delivery, attract investment, and build local expertise in offshore renewables. It provides the workforce investment, regional planning, and policy signals needed to scale projects, grow local supply chains, and build a resilient, high-value marine renewables sector.