UK's net zero goals set to create tens of thousands of skilled jobs in the North East and Yorkshire

A new study has shown that up to 80,000 skilled workers will be needed in the North East and Yorkshire if the UK is to reach its net zero target by 2030.

Commissioned by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) and funded by the North East and Yorkshire (NEY) Net Zero Hub, the Domestic Retrofit Skills Needs Assessment examined the types of skills that will be needed to decarbonise homes in the region, and the opportunities this presents for the area.

David Lynch, Energy Innovation Partnership Manager at the North East LEP, explains, “the UK government has laid out its Net Zero strategy and it’s clear that, if we’re to meet its targets, we need to get more people into the energy sector, working on retrofitting properties with low carbon technologies like heat pumps.

“We want to make sure the North East is ready to capitalise on any opportunities this presents, like a surge in skilled jobs, so with funding and support from the NEY Net Zero Hub, we commissioned this in-depth assessment of the skills which will be needed.”

The Domestic Retrofit Skills Needs Assessment focused on skills needed in retrofitting homes with low-carbon technologies. It identified the main types of job roles which will be needed including designers, installers, advisory and procurement roles and the current and projected market sizes.

NEY Net Zero Hub Manager, Karen Oliver-Spry, said, “having delivered a £53m programme of housing retrofit across the North East and Yorkshire, the Hub is aware that there are huge opportunities for skilled workers and supply chains to help decarbonise homes in our region.

“It was important to gain a detailed understanding of this need so that we can support organisations to take the necessary steps to realise the ambitions of the area. This study provides valuable insight and will help organisations to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources at a time when every penny counts.”

The study also looked at Further Education colleges in the North East and their current and planned training provision in these areas.

Based on the findings of the study, a 10-year action plan has been created by the North East LEP, laying out how the region can scale up its training provision, support people to upskill, and promote the new opportunities that are emerging in the energy sector.

The North East LEP has been awarded £2.4m to deliver Green Skills Bootcamps across the region, providing the opportunities for people to develop the skills needed in the green energy sector.