Government plans to train ‘clean power army’

A ‘clean power army’ of thousands of young people is to be trained as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has told industry, unions and trade bodies that the government will work with them to train the workers needed to hit ambitious targets for clean power by 2030.

The government said the transition to clean power will create thousands of opportunities across the sector, from renewables to upgrading the UK’s grid infrastructure with National Grid alone planning to support around 55,000 more jobs by the end of the decade.

Local partners in key regions will receive funding to identify the skills support that is needed in their area to deliver clean power by 2030.

The support could go towards new training centres, courses or career advisers - supporting local people into opportunities in industries such as welding, electrical engineering, and construction.