Select Committee · Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

Workforce planning to deliver clean, secure energy

Status: Open Opened: 11 Nov 2024 20 recommendations 7 conclusions 1 report

The committee has launched an inquiry on how to build the workforce that is needed to deliver the policies and infrastructure for the UK’s clean, secure energy mission. The inquiry aims to: explore the difficulties in recruiting and retraining the workforce to deliver a clean energy sector and retrofit homes and businesses; assess how the …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
6th Report - Workforce planning to deliver clean, secure en… HC 393 5 Dec 2025 27 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

11 items
1 Conclusion 6th Report - Workforce planning to deli… Accepted

Skilled labour supply insufficient to meet demand for clean energy and decarbonised buildings.

The supply of skilled labour does not currently match the levels of demand expected to be required if the UK is to fulfil Government’s ambitions to deliver clean energy by 2030 and decarbonised buildings by 2050. (Conclusion, Paragraph 29)

Government response. The government agrees with the conclusion, committing to expand the Energy Skills Passport, provide £20 million for North Sea worker transition, launch a North Sea Jobs Service, and explore developer contributions to a skills fund as part of its Clean …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
2 Conclusion 6th Report - Workforce planning to deli… Accepted

Government intervention and public expenditure crucial to address clean energy sector skills gaps.

Fortunately, there is a lot of scope for smart policy and expenditure to be used to collaborate with the whole energy sector, as well as the education and skills sector, to empower and equip existing workers and new entrants to meet demand created by the Government’s targets for clean energy …

Government response. The government partially agrees, outlining specific actions including an industry-led awareness campaign for clean energy careers, the establishment of a Social Inclusion Forum to coordinate initiatives, and referencing the Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy to build a robust talent pipeline.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
5 Recommendation 6th Report - Workforce planning to deli… Accepted

Accelerate initiatives promoting clean energy and retrofit careers for under-represented groups and new workforce entrants.

The Government should continue to develop and launch further initiatives to promote clean energy and retrofit careers among under-represented groups and those outside the existing workforce; the actions set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper should be accelerated to bring down the barriers to new entrants from …

Government response. The government agrees with the recommendation, stating that the existing Office for Clean Energy Jobs within DESNZ already coordinates work, convenes stakeholders, and identifies skills gaps to build a skilled clean energy workforce, including in retrofit careers.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
7 Conclusion 6th Report - Workforce planning to deli… Accepted

Government's shared job definitions and expansive approach improve effective workforce planning.

For workforce planning to be effective, it is important that there is some shared definition of the jobs under discussion for support, encouragement and incentivisation; the Government’s clarifications around definitions has been helpful. We also welcome the Government taking an expansive approach to the scope of roles included and the …

Government response. The government agrees with the conclusion, outlining how Skills England is working to create long-term certainty for the skills system and how workforce modelling in the Jobs Plan is built on deployment expectations, supported by long-term clean energy investment and …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
10 Recommendation 6th Report - Workforce planning to deli… Accepted

Publish Warm Homes Plan demonstrating career focus, tailored messaging, and training support.

The Warm Homes Plan is crucial for retrofit workforce planning and should be published as soon as possible. It must set out a clear framework of responsibilities to ensure joined-up delivery. It should demonstrate the Government is putting good quality, well-paid careers, rather than just jobs, at the heart of …

Government response. The government agrees and says that the Warm Homes Plan was published on 21 January 2026 outlining investment to upgrade homes and lift families out of fuel poverty, with policies and initiatives to deliver growth and good jobs, and a …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
11 Recommendation 6th Report - Workforce planning to deli… Accepted

Effectively resource Office for Clean Energy Jobs to encompass both clean energy and retrofit workforces.

The Office for Clean Energy Jobs should be effectively resourced so that its remit and activity can encompass both the clean energy and the retrofit workforces. (Recommendation, Paragraph 54) Collaborating with and supporting stakeholders

Government response. The government states that the Office for Clean Energy Jobs is already resourced and plays a crucial convening role between industry, trade unions, and training providers.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
19 Conclusion 6th Report - Workforce planning to deli… Accepted

Consumer and public sector demand significantly influence skills supply and investment.

Consumer and public sector demand have a significant role to play in increasing the demand for, and therefore exerting influence on the supply of, skills. Longer and more detailed time frames will provide certainty not just for consumers in seeking to adopt technologies but also for employers to invest in …

Government response. The government agrees with the conclusion, citing actions to influence demand and certainty such as cancelling the ECO scheme, shifting energy costs, publishing responses on EPC reform and private rented sector energy standards, and committing to consult on hydrogen for …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
20 Conclusion 6th Report - Workforce planning to deli… Accepted

Government can use procurement and policy levers to create demand for skilled roles.

The Government has at its disposal a range of measures, not all of which involve spending public money. There is scope for using procurement, and similar policy levers, to create the demand for skilled roles. (Conclusion, Paragraph 92)

Government response. The government agrees, highlighting the Warm Homes Plan's projected job creation and stating that DESNZ has set up a taskforce with the TUC to facilitate workforce growth. They also intend to integrate low-income capital schemes by 2027/28.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
22 Recommendation 6th Report - Workforce planning to deli… Accepted

Incorporate digital skills and modern construction methods into workforce planning for productivity.

In addition to increasing the overall number of workers, we recognise that productivity improvements and new working practices will be essential to meet the scale of labour demand identified in this Report. Evidence submitted on the sheer volume of work required, including retrofitting most UK homes to EPC C by …

Government response. The government agrees with the recommendation, committing to review the system of standards, oversight, and protections for energy efficiency installations, consult on simplifying the system, and review PAS standards to broaden the definition of competence to ensure installations are completed …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
24 Recommendation 6th Report - Workforce planning to deli… Accepted

Facilitate a greater role for local authorities to accelerate domestic retrofit roll-out.

We look forward to the Government’s Warm Homes Plan and their estimate of workforce needs and how they will meet it. The Government’s Warm Homes Plan should facilitate a greater role for local authorities to accelerate the roll-out of retrofit. (Recommendation, Paragraph 96)

Government response. The government agrees with the recommendation and states that the Warm Homes Plan is projected to increase the number of jobs supported in energy efficiency and clean heating. DESNZ has set up a taskforce in partnership with the TUC, to …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
27 Recommendation 6th Report - Workforce planning to deli… Accepted

Publish evaluation of funding schemes impacting skills supply in retrofit sector

The Government should commit immediately to at least maintaining its support for measures aimed at increasing demand for retrofit during this Parliament. It should also commit to carrying out and publishing an evaluation of the impact of its funding schemes directly addressing the supply of skills before the end of …

Government response. The government is investing £15 billion through the Warm Homes Plan to upgrade up to five million homes by 2030, and routinely carries out evaluation activities to measure the impact of departmental skills funding.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
13 May 2025 Hugo Jones · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Sarah Jones MP · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero View ↗
30 Apr 2025 Jodie Coe · Northern Powergrid, Leah Robson · Your Energy Your Way, Sue Ferns · Prospect Trade Union, Tom Jarman · Low Carbon Journey View ↗
26 Mar 2025 Andrew Hockey · Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, Anna Markova · Trades Union Congress, Brian Berry · Federation of Master Builders, David Hughes CBE · Association of Colleges, James Fotherby · Aldersgate Group, Katy Heidenreich · Offshore Energies UK, Simon Ayers MBE · TrustMark, Tim Balcon · Construction Industry Training Board View ↗
5 Mar 2025 Dr Christian Calvillo · University of Strathclyde, Dr Richard Hanna · Imperial College London, Professor James Robson · University of Oxford View ↗