Monday September 30th 2024
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
In a defining sign of the times the booming wind farm industry in the Scottish Borders is set to require many more workers than those employed in traditional textile trades, according to a new forecast.
It is estimated the current textile industry workforce in the Borders totals about one thousand individuals, although more than 20 per cent of the posts are part-time.
Meanwhile, a report by Climate X Change, Scotland’s centre of expertise connecting climate change and policy, based at Edinburgh University, has predicted wind farm construction and installation in the Borders will require 1,436 staff in 2025 plus a further 123 for operations and maintenance.
The report’s authors say that overall, stakeholders in the industry felt that those working in the sector have the right skills, but there are skilled workforce shortages.
It states: “In the short term, there is a need for more people to join the sector and for individuals from other sectors to be reskilled/ upskilled. Without this, the sector faces challenges in delivering new projects on time, maintaining existing wind farms and maximising economic and environmental benefits.
“Not addressing skill shortages is likely to have a severe impact on the ambition to install 20 GW of onshore wind by 2030. By 2027, our model predicts that, on average, four times more full-time equivalents will be required for construction and installation than in 2024. Within this, five times more civil contractors will be required.”
Climate X Change has recommended the Scottish Government along with other public agencies, industry and the education sector, take the opportunity to address expected skill shortages in relation to the 20 GW capacity ambition by 2030.
The report states: “Addressing these shortages will require a comprehensive approach, including workforce development initiatives, training programmes and industry-academy collaborations. In this regard, collaboration between stakeholders from the public, private and education sectors will be crucial to bridge skills divides and unlock the full potential of Scotland’s onshore wind resources.”
According to the university team, the most pressing action is to raise awareness of the broad range of career opportunities directly or indirectly associated with the onshore wind energy sector, especially for regional workforces.
“There is scope for targeted campaigns in rural areas where the majority of the new installations will take place – to demonstrate well-paid, highly skilled jobs for local people. For example, according to UK Government statistics a wind turbine technician can expect a starting salary of £25,000 reaching £47,000 with experience. This could also help address population decline, due to younger people moving to more populated parts of the country.”
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