Net Zero Skills Strategy: A Catalyst for Wales' Sustainable Future

As we inch closer to 2050 the urgency to achieve net zero emissions has never been more palpable. Wales, a country once at the forefront of the industrial revolution finds itself at a cross roads grappling with challenges resulting from the decline in heavy industry, job losses and the impact on communities.  However, the low carbon evolution has led to new jobs and improved health and wellbeing for local communities.  With the need to rapidly increase the generation and supply of renewable energy in Wales, there is a real opportunity through on shore wind to make the Welsh weather work for Wales.

Bute Energy is one of Wales’ leading developers of on shore wind, with the potential through their project pipeline to contribute 13% towards the whole of the UK’s on shore wind targets by 2030.  Alongside helping us in this vital transition to net zero there is also huge potential for new jobs. Bute Energy alone aim to create up to 2,000 jobs from their projects, but for Wales to take advantage of this we need to make sure that we have a workforce equipped with the right skills.

The Skills Gap in Wales’ Transition to Net Zero

During my time as Future Generations Commissioner, the Wales TUC identified the potential for over 60,000 new jobs in the low carbon economy.  Rather worryingly, my own analysis found that there were significant skills gaps meaning Welsh workers were not in a prime position to take up those job roles. Aside from a need to develop new job opportunities for young people entering the employment market, Wales is facing a future where 140,000 existing jobs will be affected by the transition to net zero – necessitating massive re-skilling efforts to align these roles with the demands of a new, green economy.

Bute is determined to step up to this challenge with their recently unveiled Net Zero Skills Strategy, which is designed to address the critical need for skills development and places a significant emphasis on re-training. Aligned with our ground-breaking Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, Bute Energy are also taking a long term view: They’re seeking to fix existing challenges but also investing up stream by developing the future workforce through their work with schools, universities and industry groups.  Importantly, their approach will ensure their work contributes to addressing wider societal issues such as equality in health levels and connected communities.

Equitable Pathways for the Workforce

My own analysis as Commissioner highlighted not only a skills gap in low carbon industries but also a gender and race gap, with both these groups being hugely underrepresented in these jobs. This is why the approach to developing skills for the green transition sits alongside Bute’s long-term investment in developing STEM skills in schools, providing opportunities specifically for women but also for other groups who are currently less likely or able to pursue a career in this sector. The strategy includes working with educational providers to set up Women’s Networks and Women in STEM spaces and working with community and marginalised groups to introduce them to the potential of developing net zero skills.  Bute have successfully delivered a paid internship programme for two years running, while encouraging their partners to do the same.

Collaboration: A Key to Success

Experts have identified a lack of collaboration across sectors as a major barrier to Wales’ progress towards net zero. Without partnership between private companies, public institutions, third-sector organisations, and the government – the path to decarbonisation will be slow and disjointed. Recogniisng this challenge, Bute Energy’s strategy is rooted in collaboration.

Through its industry leading Social Value Standard, Bute are aiming to harness the power and resources of their supply chain to commit 2% of the contract value to support communities nearest their projects.  In collaboration with said communities, extensive mapping has been undertaken to identify the challenges, opportunities and priorities for local people and contractors will deliver their support against those themes.  They are also expected to:

• build in opportunities for apprenticeships
• support efforts in education so that schools and colleges have a better understanding of the opportunities available to them in the future
• engage early on with local business who have the potential to be brought in to the wider supply chain.

In the true spirit of partnership, they also receive support from the Bute Energy’s Community Investment team and their Social Value Standard partner, Antz in order to build their own social value capabilities.

Alongside this Bute is developing partnerships with the national and local organisations including Urdd, Literature Wales and numerous Young Farmers Clubs. Working together to combine the influence of sport, culture and arts with the technical expertise of the energy sector, Bute Energy, the FAW and others are creating a huge platform to promote sustainability, well-being, and skills development.

Across the nation, many different organisations are working beyond their traditional boundaries and partnering with what might seem unusual suspects.  This is underpinned by a common vision of wanting to create a Wales which is greener, fairer and more prosperous. It is this type of approach that sets us apart and despite the many challenges we face, I believe it will ultimately give us the edge in making sure the choices we make today shape the best possible future.