**Mismatch between Oil and Gas and Renewable Energy Skills: The Solution Lies in the Energy Skills Passport**
The transition from traditional oil and gas industries to the burgeoning renewable energy sector, particularly offshore wind, presents a significant comparative advantage for skilled labor in the UK. Two prominent UK trade associations, RenewableUK and Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), are addressing this challenge head-on by introducing the Energy Skills Passport—a joint initiative designed to facilitate the seamless transfer of highly skilled professionals from the oil and gas industry to newer roles in offshore wind.
### A Blueprint for Intersectoral Mobility
The Energy Skills Passport is set to launch in January 2025, following a pilot phase where it will be tested with a limited group before its full-scale rollout. This innovative tool is aimed at bridging the skills gap between the two energy sectors, enabling workers to leverage their existing qualifications and training standards to secure new roles in offshore wind.
Central to this passport is an interactive tool that provides clarity on which qualifications are mutually recognized across the sector. This avoids any duplication of training courses, ensuring that workers can focus on enhancing their skills rather than(retaking redundant courses. Moreover, the passport will map out potential career pathways, guiding workers through the transition process with ease.
### Unlocking Talent with Transferable Skills
Research commissioned by OEUK has demonstrated that an impressive 90% of oil and gas industry workers possess skills that are directly transferable to future offshore jobs in renewable energy. Roles such as maintenance technician, commissioning technician, high-voltage senior authorized person, and troubleshooting technician are prime examples of the myriad opportunities available to skilled professionals.
Jane Cooper, Executive Director of Offshore Wind at RenewableUK, emphasized the immense opportunities created by the upsurge in offshore wind jobs: “The transition from oil and gas to offshore wind is a vital step in our nation’s shift towards a cleaner energy sector. We must support our highly skilled workforce in this transition to ensure they can harness their valuable experience for a brighter, sustainable future.”
### Collaboration for Sustainability
Katy Heidenreich, Director of Supply Chain & People at OEUK, highlighted the significance of collaboration in unlocking the full potential of the UK’s offshore energy sector. She noted: “This industry and its people have proven excellence and a broad range of transferable skills from engineering and construction to legal and commercial expertise. The Energy Skills Passport is one way we can help them succeed right across our diverse energy mix.”
The joint effort between RenewableUK and OEUK is