Solving the modern challenge of massively reducing our greenhouse gas emissions without compromising energy access and availability will depend on a diverse energy mix, including wind, solar photovoltaics (PV), carbon capture and hydrogen, combined with a more sustainable way of producing hydrocarbons. It will be driven by the STEM talents of the next generation of the global energy workforce.

We need the talented young people of today to shape a brighter tomorrow. OPITO facilitates this by championing and promoting the energy industry as an exciting and progressive sector in which to build a career. That requires us to demonstrate that the industry is willing to acknowledge where it needs to improve, and that it has a clear vision of how to do so.

In the UK alone, we anticipate that more than 100,000 additional skilled jobs will be created in the energy sector between 2030 and 2040. Worldwide, 42 million global jobs will be created in renewable energy by 2050, with one million people working in offshore wind alone.

Today’s youth; tomorrow’s leaders
Nowadays, young people want to work for organisations that have a purpose, that contribute something to the world, and they want to be proud of their employer. The energy industry can provide all of this, but we need to communicate it better and offer clearer, easier career pathways.

A recent EY report revealed that most young people perceive oil and gas as a blue-collar profession. Blue collar workers – from drill operators to welders – play a vital role in our industry, but there is much more to it. Net zero has inspired different skills, capitalising on evolving technologies.

We are hungry for expertise in data science, data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, material science, change management, remote operations and cyber security. The training, safety and skills sphere that OPITO operates in has been transformed over the last decade to incorporate e-learning, virtual learning platforms and, increasingly, immersive learning experiences like virtual reality and augmented reality.

The skills and experience currently in the oil and gas industry are precisely what we need to build our clean, green energy future. But we need to recruit now to maintain and develop that skilled supply chain for the future.

Training the required workforce 
OPITO aims to increase take-up of STEM subjects. As the global safety, training and skills organisation for the offshore energy industry – we currently train close to half a million people worldwide annually. We have a commitment to technical apprenticeships which has seen more than 2,000 technical apprentices completing our OGTAP apprenticeship programme since 1999.

We are hungry for expertise in data science, data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, material science, change management, remote operations and cyber security.

Apprenticeship programmes are invaluable in developing the STEM skills of the future. OGTAP alumni currently hold senior positions with major companies from Wood Group to BP right across the world. Today’s apprentices will be hitting their career peaks just as net zero becomes a reality.

Building interest in STEM should start as early as possible, enriching learning experiences to capture the imaginations of young people, spark their interest and arouse their curiosity.

In the UK and globally, our STEM schemes are gaining real traction. For instance, the Learning Lab project has already engaged more than 9,000 school pupils across Scotland. Developed alongside the Science Centres in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee, and the Science Skills Academy, the scheme empowers and inspires primary and secondary school pupils by allowing them to conduct actual experiments and meet real scientists.  

Meanwhile, the OffshoreWind4Kids project enables pupils to take part in building their own wind turbines on local beaches. The workshops are proving a powerful way to engage, excite and inspire them through fun and hands-on experience.

Overseas, we have STEM programmes such as our partnership with Lone Star College (LSC) Foundation in Texas to offer $1,000 grants to 15 students enrolled in the LSC Process Technology programme.

In Abu Dhabi, we are proud sponsors of Young ADIPEC, a scheme that seeks to excite and engage high school students about the possibilities of engineering careers in the energy sector. Almost 5,000 students have graduated from the programme since its launch a decade ago and it continues to grow.

Underpinning all of this is our My Energy Future platform. This is an interactive, online hub designed to inspire and inform the next generation of energy professionals about STEM careers in the energy industry of the future. It gives them access to a wealth of stimulating content, including access to inspirational influencers across the world. Since launching in 2021, the site has continued to grow and evolve alongside our energy mix, showcasing a diverse range of energy sources and professionals.

The energy industry, and its new generation of skilled workers, will be front and centre in achieving net zero and safeguarding our energy security. Being part of the clean energy solution is an inspiring incentive for making a future career in energy.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.