The trade union, Unite, has welcomed the introduction of digital offshore skills passport. The pilot scheme is designed to support those wishing to transition from the oil and gas industry into renewables.
The first stage of the scheme is focussed on the transition into Offshore Wind. The Scottish Government has put £3.7million into the scheme and £1million has come from the UK Government.
John Boland, Chair for the Offshore Co-ordinating Group (OCG) of trade unions said:
“We welcome the introduction of digital offshore skills passport after a lengthy process with employers and training bodies. When fully developed, it has the potential to make it easier for workers to move between sectors, but on its own the skills passport is not going to achieve a Just Transition for offshore oil and gas workers. Urgent action is needed to protect offshore workers and supply chain jobs currently at risk from decommissioning.
“There needs to be a clear plan to safeguard incomes, trade union rights, and safety standards.”
“By engaging with the UK and Scottish governments, our aim is to maximise the benefits of the GB Energy Bill’s planning and public ownership powers to support workers facing increasing pressures from North Sea multinationals and contractors during the energy transition.
The scheme is part of wider Scottish Government work for a just transition to net zero to support oil and gas workers as part of a fair and managed transition.
Acting Cabinet Secretary in the Scottish Government Gillian Martin said:
“It is absolutely vital that we recognise and retain the considerable skills of oil and gas workers and ensure they are supported, as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring a fair and just transition for Scotland.
“That’s why the Scottish Government has provided £3.7 million of funding to support oil and gas and renewables industries to jointly develop the Energy Skills Passport – helping to ensure that the skills, experience and expertise of oil and gas workers are harnessed and that they are ready to apply for the long term sustainable jobs that are created as part of our fair and managed transition to net zero.
“The Scottish Government’s support on the passport will help ensure the economic transformation is managed fairly for workers in existing industries and the communities that underpin them. I welcome the pilot phase of the passport, which has been three years in the making and i look forward to seeing further developments in the coming months.”
Click on this link to find out more about The Energy Skills Passport
The Energy Skills Passport is a digital platform designed for professionals across the energy sector. Designed to let you transfer your skills with ease, the Energy Skill Passport can help you plan and develop your energy career. Showcase your expertise, verify your qualifications, and create new career opportunities across oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors.
Workers will be able to create an account to access the four career pathways currently available, helping them identify where their existing qualifications are recognised. Led by Renewable UK and Offshore Energies UK the scheme may recieve additional funding as it progresses.
RenewableUK’s Executive Director of Offshore Wind Jane Cooper said:
“More than a hundred thousand people will be working in the UK’s offshore wind industry by 2030, mostly in highly skilled roles. To grow our world-class industry as fast as possible, we need the valuable experience that oil and gas workers can bring .
“The Energy Skills Passport which we’re launching today with our OEUK colleagues offers a gateway for people to make this transition by helping them to identify which offshore wind roles which would suit them best, and setting out in detail the training they will need to secure these new job opportunities.
“It’s a practical tool which demonstrates our determination to bring the tangible benefits of the energy transition to workers right across the energy sector”.
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