The London Energy Partnership today (23 March 2007) launched its latest study, ‘Skills Gap in the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sector in London’. The guide - funded by the London Development Agency - examines the increased demands on the energy efficiency and renewable energy sector and assesses the impact on skills and training provision in London.
The energy efficiency and renewable energy sector has experienced rapid change over the last five years. We have seen new legislation, government initiatives, increased awareness of the threat of climate change and incentives aimed at reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. The study identifies the energy efficiency and renewable energy resources and skills gaps in London and recommends ways to address any shortfalls.
The main difficulty facing the energy efficiency and renewable energy sector in terms of skills and training is that a number of skills councils (footnote 1) cater for their sector. This can be seen by some of the different sectors where new jobs and skills will be required, which include heat and gas engineering, insulation, glazing, electrical trades, plumbing, construction, engineering, architecture, surveying, home energy inspection, housing, planning, building control and commercial energy management. The study makes recommendations to ensure that London is equipped to deal with the challenge ahead and maximise future opportunities for new jobs and business advantage.
This study has involved organisations from a wide variety of sectors and interests, including employers, Sector Skills Councils, Further and Higher Education and independent sector education and training organisations.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: ‘The London Energy Partnership has produced a useful and comprehensive report, which will help to drive future skills and training provision. To meet our science-based targets to cut London’s carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025 we must generate a major increase in demand for low carbon products and services. This, in turn, will mean more demand for those with skills and training in these sectors. The London Skills and Employment Board will need to ensure that Londoners are properly equipped to maximise these future opportunities.'
Phil Hope, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills said: 'This Government is committed to the radical reduction of carbon emissions. The London Energy Partnership work highlighting skills needs in the energy sector is timely. We are determined to work with employers to ensure we have the skills to achieve energy efficiency, efficient supply and renewable energy to meet the challenge of climate change. It is vital that training providers, the new sector skills councils, professional and trade bodies and funding bodies co-ordinate training provision across the regions to deliver for our low carbon future'.
David Green, Chair of the London Energy Partnership said: ‘London needs employers and training providers to work together to ensure the workforce is equipped to exploit the new economic opportunities that responding to the challenge of climate change will create. This report shows the extent of this challenge.’
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Notes to editors
1) The study focuses on the six Sector Skills Councils with most direct impact on skills and training for energy efficiency and renewable energy. These are Asset Skills, Construction Skills, EU Skills, Lifelong Learning UK, SEMTA and SummitSkills. The report identifies two key ways in which the Sector Skills Councils and the Sector Skills Development Agency can work with employers and education and training providers to improve the skills development of the workforce. The first are Sector Skills Agreements, which have been introduced as a way for Sector Skills Councils to exert strong influence to help shape the supply of relevant training and skills. The second method is using National Occupational Standards, which define the level of competence needed for a particular job role or occupation and provide the building blocks for the assessment of skills and training needs.
2) The London Energy Partnership (LEP) uses the power of partnership to enable London to respond to the challenges of climate change, security of energy supply and fuel poverty. Their aims include assisting in the delivery of London's carbon dioxide reduction, fuel poverty and security of supply targets for 2010, 2016 and 2050. London Energy Partnership also enables a number of high profile, London-wide initiatives that deliver social, environmental and economic benefits while also creating commercial opportunities in sustainable energy and help to build London's green economy.
3) The London Energy Partnership is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Greater London Authority, Energy Saving Trust, London Development Agency and Argent Group plc. The London Energy Partnership steering group members and observers include representatives from Argent Group Plc, Business Councils for Sustainable Energy UK, Carbon Trust, EDF Energy, Energy Saving Trust, RBC Capital Markets, Greater London Authority, Government Office for London, London Borough’s Energy Group, London Climate Change Agency, London Development Agency, London Sustainability Exchange, Renewable Energy Association, London South Bank University and Thames Gateway London Partnership.
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