Future Skills 2013

I was lucky enough to be at a conference on new nuclear in the UK on the day that Edward Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, announced that planning permission had been granted for the development of Hinkley Point C – what could be the first nuclear power station to be built in the UK for 20 years.

As you can imagine, the room was abuzz with excitement on a date that could prove to be a milestone in the UK’s push for a new fleet of reactors. But the day’s discussions quickly turned to the practicalities of achieving this goal. The focus was on the skills and capabilities of the workforce needed to build not just this new plant, but then on subsequent nuclear plants, should the market favour the development of new nuclear power.

The success of any new nuclear projects will depend the skills of those involved in planning, developing, constructing, managing and eventually running the plant. Like other facets of the industry, the need to ensure competency in the workforce is paramount. For such an important sector as energy, that Sarah Beacock FEI quite rightly points out is key to future life on earth (see page two), there can be no cutting corners. If this happens, as we have seen in the past, the consequences to human health and the environment can be highly damaging.

The skills conundrum in the energy industry is a complex beast. We have an industry that is growing in significance due to an increase in energy demand and a need to reduce the environmental impact of energy use. We have a need for more and more talented people to enter the industry as skills gaps are looming. But we also have engineering graduates looking for work. The need to promote the industry as a career choice, in a hugely important and rewarding area of the economy, has never been more important.

This is partly what this supplement is about. We feature lots of useful information for those looking to begin or expand their career in energy – from discussions with those that are studying energy at the moment and a look into their courses, to a listing of all the courses and training institutions that have met the EI’s criteria for accreditation, from page 13.

My message to you is simple – if you are not currently a part of the energy industry, take a look at these pages and see what wide-ranging and rewarding opportunities are on offer. If you are in the industry, do have a read and then pass this on to those considering what to do with their future. A lot of work needs to be done to transform the global energy system – the more well-qualified people we have on board to achieve this the better.

Marc Height, Deputy Editor