TO BE PUBLISHED October 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for green skills provision and clean energy employment opportunities in England. Discussion will focus on progress on the Clean Energy Jobs Plan, assess Skills England’s recently published Sector Skills Needs Assessment: Clean Energy, and explore the role of Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges in supporting access to clean energy job opportunities.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss next steps in implementation of the Clean Energy Jobs Plan, and what will be needed for the education and skills system to be able to meet workforce requirements associated with Clean Power 2030. Attendees will explore priorities for alignment of national employment and net zero targets with regional labour market needs, including the role of Skills England, combined authorities, devolved administrations, and employers in translating strategic commitments into operational delivery across clean energy supply chains and infrastructure programmes.
Implementation of the Clean Energy Jobs Plan, workforce capacity & system co-ordination
The agenda will examine progress of the Clean Energy Jobs Plan, including emerging evidence on recruitment into priority occupations and initial lessons learned from Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges and apprenticeship pathways. Delegates will consider the role of Skills England and Office for Clean Energy Jobs in shaping workforce planning, and priorities for strengthening co-ordination of national and regional demand, as well as strategies for improving employer engagement in training provision.
Discussion will also consider the role of the Growth and Skills Levy and wider funding arrangements in supporting employer investment in training - particularly for small firms - and whether current mechanisms are sufficient to build capacity across construction, energy, manufacturing and related sectors. The potential impact of the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper on local skills planning and productivity will also be assessed, particularly in the context of devolved responsibilities for skills delivery.
Progression pathways & workforce transition
Further sessions will assess the effectiveness of current pathways into clean energy employment, looking at apprenticeships, technical education, higher technical qualifications and degree-level routes. Delegates will consider strategies for alignment of progression routes with employer demand, and how transitions between education, training and employment can be strengthened.
The agenda will also examine workforce transition from oil and gas and adjacent sectors, including early progress with the Energy Skills Passport. Barriers to reskilling will be discussed, alongside recognition of transferable skills, and how national and devolved approaches can support consistent pathways across regions.
Regional delivery, devolution & labour market alignment
Further sessions will address the regional distribution of clean energy employment and implications for workforce planning and delivery at local level. Delegates will discuss how combined authorities, devolved administrations and local skills partnerships can respond to differing labour market conditions, and priorities for developing more responsive and place-based skills provision.
Discussion will also consider opportunities for developing coherence between national clean energy targets and local industrial strategies, and assess regional approaches to preventing fragmentation and duplication in skills provision. The role of local employer engagement in shaping provision and supporting delivery at scale will also be examined.
Job quality, inclusion & workforce sustainability
The agenda will look at implications of clean energy growth for workforce participation and long-term retention. Delegates will assess expectations around pay, progression, job security and working conditions, including early implementation of fair work commitments in offshore wind and wider implications for standards across the sector.
Further discussion will consider how effectively current arrangements are widening access to clean energy careers, and what more may be needed to ensure that workforce growth is inclusive and sustainable across regions and communities.
Overview of areas for discussion
- Clean Energy Jobs Plan implementation:
- initial progress - translating national targets into workforce outcomes - co-ordination across national and regional systems
- workforce demand and planning:
- Skills England Sector Skills Needs Assessment findings - shortages in engineering, construction, electrical installation and technical occupations - alignment of provision with projected demand
- system co-ordination and devolution:
- roles of Skills England, combined authorities and devolved administrations - alignment of national and local workforce priorities - risks of fragmentation and duplication
- training provision and Technical Excellence Colleges:
- early lessons learned from Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges - scaling capacity across regions - employer engagement in shaping provision
- progression pathways:
- apprenticeships, technical education, higher technical qualifications and degree-level routes - alignment with occupational demand - strengthening pathways into employment
- workforce mobility:
- Energy Skills Passport development - reskilling from oil and gas and related sectors - recognition of transferable skills across subsectors
- regional delivery and labour market alignment:
- place-based skills planning - regional variation in demand - integration with local industrial strategies
- job quality:
- pay, progression and security - early implementation of fair work commitments - workforce retention and standards across the sector
- participation and inclusion:
- widening access to clean energy careers - engagement of underrepresented groups - improving awareness and entry routes
