WORKING AT HEIGHTS - Wind Energy Network

SKILLS GAPWind energyindustry skills gapinitiative updateHistoryIn the April/May 2012 edition we featuredthe ‘Kent Schools Wind Energy EnterpriseChallenge’ which started our initiative onaddressing the wind energy industry skillsgap as a matter of urgency.I year ago we reported that we see thereare 4 main areas to focus on if we areto satisfy that need and would include afocused approach in the following areas...• Schools – student engagement andawareness at the early stages ofcareer development (ages 14 onwards)• Schools’ 6th Form /further education –schools/colleges• Engineering and science graduateattraction – universities• Mature experienced individuals fromother relevant energy industries/sourcese.g. oil & gas industry/forces etcA major feature in the June/July 2013highlighted each of these areas as aprelude to a series focusing more in detailin each of the following editions.Editorial evolved over those editions andfeatured all sorts of contributions frommany areas of the UK and also drew lotsof interest from Europe and beyond.The time has now come to reviewthe situation having gathered all theinformation and response from theindustry.Wind Industry Careers websitePreparations are in hand to launch thenew Wind Industry Careers website. Wedelayed this launch until the industryunderstood what we are trying to achievein the best interests of the industry as awhole.This interactive and informative websitebe used to attract people of all ages andabilities into the wind energy industry.There are a number of initiatives to helpthe industry progress in the skills areaand it is our policy to compliment theseinitiatives and not to be in competition withanyone.Wind Industry Careers steeringgroupWith this in mind we created the WindIndustry Careers steering group to guideus through the set up and monitor theprogress of the initiative.The group met in late 2012 to set policyand procedures – the first meeting wasextremely successful and the secondmeeting is scheduled in 2013 followed bythe launch of the new website.Wind Industry Careers ‘roadshows’It remains our intention to tour the UKand organise road-shows at appropriatevenues suited to the 4 target areas i.e.selected schools, colleges, universitiesand company sites/forces bases – alldecision makers from the relevant areas ofthe industry, some of which have alreadybeen approached for their comments,were enthusiastic about getting involvedwith this initiative. Following furtherconsultation with interested partiestimescales and road-show formats can bediscussed and decided.We will keep you informed ofdevelopments.Regular skills gap featureThe Skills Gap initiative has attracted manyeditorial contributions from educationalestablishments who are carrying outsterling work in their own areas ofexpertise.We will therefore continue to host a regularskills gap feature within each edition of themagazine – please feel free to contributeregular editorial for inclusion.Duncan McGilvrayEditor14www.windenergynetwork.co.uk