More than 200 offshore wind players were challenged to embrace students into their organisations at the Offshore Wind Week event at OrbisEnergy, Lowestoft, organised by the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR).
Champions of East of England offshore wind must invest in the industry’s future by offering work placements and internships now to secure longevity for developing wind farms, EEEGR said.
Sixth-formers, undergraduates and pre-apprentices spoke about the need for opportunities within businesses to shape their future careers.
Stuart Rimmer, principal and CEO of Great Yarmouth College and principal and CEO designate of East Coast College, the proposed merger between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft colleges, appealed to companies to look to the future and support young people in local education now.
“The future skills pipeline is vital to make the industry work,” he told the event, which included speakers from ScottishPower Renewables, Associated British Ports (ABP), Innogy SE, Green Investment Bank, Vattenfall and Statoil.
“What a hugely talented group of individuals we have in colleges and training providers right here within a few miles. We need to back them with your commitment to help them take that leap of faith into the industry by providing work placements.
“Let’s keep doing this together. We’ve heard today of the longevity of these projects – and 40 years into the future it will pay us back for years to come.”
Before the young people spoke in the Skills for Energy session, Julian Brown , chair of RenewableUK, told the conference: “We have to remind ourselves how far this industry has come in a relatively short space of time. Offshore wind is generating 5% of our UK electricity, soon to be 10%.
“We want MPs and other stakeholders to understand the success of what we are doing – to shout about the jobs that have been created.”
Waveney MP Peter Aldous congratulated the “local champions” of the offshore wind industry for building the East of England reputation.
Government clarity was needed for confidence for investors and the industry needed to look for greater collaboration “to bring wholesale benefits to the people of the area,” he said.
“There is the opportunity to make Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth the global centre for marine renewables – a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“The most important thing is the people in Suffolk, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth.”
The UK taxpayer needed to see a return on the investment, with the target of 50% UK content of offshore wind farms driven up to 70-75%, he said.
“We want those turbines out there to be stamped ‘Made in Britain’.”