Energy
The Energy Sector
Contribution to
the UK economy:
The energy sector
employs 169,000
people (2013)
£25 billion
£71billion
Direct
Indirect
The number of
people working
in the sector is
increasing
Productivity
is high
Oil & Gas
• Exploration, extraction,
refinement, transportation
and sale of petroleum
• Natural gas extraction
and coal gas manufacture,
distribution and sale
Renewables
• Generation, distribution
and sale of sustainable
sources of energy such
as hydro, wind and solar
Electricity
Energy
Sector
Nuclear
• Generation,
distribution
and sale
Coal
• Generation, building,
decommissioning and
restoring power plants,
distribution and sale
• Underground and
ground level mining,
combustion and sale
The report focuses on five key occupations:
Engineer
Technician
Project/
change
manager
Sales and
marketing
manager
Overhead
lines worker
Current Challenges
• Skills shortages: Demand
for skilled engineers and
technicians outweighs supply
• New entrants: Limited
numbers of young people
entering the sector
• Ageing workforce: New
recruits needed every year
to meet projected demand
• Employers need to
collaborate to plan for
the future
A
YE
R
S
Future Skills Issues
£
New
technologies
Government
investment
Energy
Sector
Energy
efficiency
targets
Sophisticated
energy
storage and
management
solutions
A
A
B
C
D
E
Technical skills 5969796958588846884688659 >>
>>
86
such as data 2.3.9.5.8.6.8.62912>9031903140815081600>
10
01
analytics >10912031904799595689>5-0410041-3-32-
Knowledge
of the latest
technologies
50699
People
management
skills
Practical
skills
Key Occupations
Engineer:
Design, develop and
maintain power grids
596
97
2
539958 969585
6
... 69
78686 84848
2
...96
9858
9.5
>03
1
68
0
628929 86588
108
4659
1.9.
1
.
239
.4..01>6081369838
48584
8
5>00
.
9
0
6 866>>
61
99
071905582>9209130108
8 >>
91
1019310> 659
192
69
0
1->40
5
014
394
8
0
0
1
4
506
9
0 3 586>>
997 558> 31-0
1
>>
2010
9
0
969
101
>
0
04- 10
3-3
2-
Analyse complex
problems
5-4
Use technical
expertise
Explain design ideas
and work in a team
JOB
T
LIS
Prioritise, plan and
make decisions
Technician:
Plan, install, test and
maintain equipment
3.441
Use design tools
and techniques
Convey complex
concepts to
non-technical
staff
Understand detailed
information and
visualise changes
Understand latest
technological
developments
Problem
solve
Overhead lines worker:
Install, maintain and
repair overhead
electricity lines network
Competent
working at height
Good practical
skills
Physically fit
Problem-solving
ability
Safety-conscious
HIGH
VOLTAGE
Project/ change
manager:
Establish relationships
with and motivate teams
Excellent facilitation
and negotiation skills
Exceptional
communication
Critical thinking and
problem solving
Technical background
and industry knowledge
Sales and marketing
manager
Research and develop
marketing / sales plans
Communication
skills
IST
L
JOB
Excellent organisational
and planning skills
Strong sales and
negotiation skills
Detailed knowledge
of the energy market
Conclusions
££ £ ££ £
££ £ ££ £ ££ £ ££ £
The sector
offers good
opportunities,
pay and
progression.
££ £
Employers can
collaborate
with schools
and colleges to
promote the
sector to young
people.
Skills
Up-skill current
work force
Retiring staff:
Need to capture skills
and knowledge
Develop
training
New staff:
Bring new
knowledge
Up-skill current
workforce and
develop new staff
The sub-sectors have different drivers of change.
There can be peaks and troughs in demand for
workers across energy sub-sectors.
Training and collaboration
could facilitate working
across sub-sectors.
Collaboration:
• Within companies
• Between companies
• Between energy subsectors