£100m ready to boost employment in offshore wind sector

A £100m fund is now in place to help countrywide firms capitalise on offshore wind.

The UK is said to be suited to exploiting wind power, with turbines having been erected in over 30 locations. However, the sector hasn’t produced enough jobs.

Benj Sykes is chairman of the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) and the UK country manager for the Danish firm Orsted.

He said: “The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership will provide practical help for UK companies so they can compete successfully for contracts in this thriving global market.”

The OWIC is a joint government/industry body, investing and raising funds to support supply chain companies.

By 2030 the offshore wind power market is expected to be worth £30bn per year, with the UK expected to be generating a third of its electricity from wind.