Regional Clean Energy Skills Coordination

Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington, in collaboration with the North West Net Zero Hub and other organizations, is looking to hire a consultant or a small team of consultants to develop a regional strategy for addressing the clean energy skills and labor shortage in the North West and neighboring regions. This project is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Office for Clean Energy Jobs. The selected consultants will need to identify one or two individuals to serve as the regional lead for a specified number of days each week throughout the project duration. The Clean Energy Sector encompasses various areas, including Offshore Wind, Onshore Wind, Solar, Nuclear Fusion, Nuclear Fission, Smart Systems and Flexibility, Electricity Networks, Hydrogen, Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage, Greenhouse Gas Removals, Domestic and Non-Domestic Heat Pumps, Heat Networks, Biomethane, and Energy Efficiency and Retrofit. Previous research indicates a significant workforce demand in the Clean Energy sector, with an estimated need for 39,000 workers in clean energy jobs by 2028/9 in the North West and North Wales, based on current investment projections. At least 16,000 new workers are required in the next 4-5 years, and approximately 23,000 existing workers will need targeted upskilling to transition into clean energy roles. The consultant will engage with senior stakeholders to create an action plan that addresses these workforce challenges, ensuring that local communities and supply chains benefit from the energy transition. The plan will also identify potential funding partners and outline collaborative projects to attract new investments in skills development from both private and public sectors.