The renewable energy sector has a key role to play in helping to plug the UK’s skills gap in science, technology, engineering and maths, according to David Hunt, managing partner of renewables recruitment specialist Hyperion Executive Search (pictured).
The renewable energy sector has a key role to play in helping to plug the UK’s skills gap in science, technology, engineering and maths, according to David Hunt, managing partner of renewables recruitment specialist Hyperion Executive Search (pictured).
According to a report commissioned by Shell Springboard there is an annual deficit of 50,000 STEM graduates which could mean the low-carbon economy missing out on £6.7bn of annual growth by 2023.The report’s authors urge the Government to make plugging the skills gap a key item on its low-carbon agenda. However, David Hunt says the sector should launch its own high profile campaign.
David, who is also chair of the Renewable Energy Association’s On-site Renewables Group, said: “There has perhaps been a natural inclination for employers to look for ready-made candidates they can pick off the shelf, rather than looking to develop their own talent or promote the opportunities available to employees in related industries to transfer their skills across to the renewables sector.
“But if we are to continue to take full advantage of the opportunities opening up to the renewables sector – and help tackle the skills gap identified in Shell’s report – we need to put in place a longer-term strategy.”
He continued: “Wouldn’t it be terrific if the renewables sector came together with its own high profile campaign to highlight the opportunities available both to employees looking to transfer their skills and to those entering the workplace for the first time?”
“As well as promoting such opportunities, we would also have to be ready and able as an industry to invest the time, resource and training necessary to help them make the smooth transition to our sector.
“Engineering and science, as well as cutting edge innovation and technology, are the life blood of the renewables sector. It is up to those of us already committed to our sector to do everything we can to ensure we are continually attracting the best talent to an industry with so much to offer,” he added.
Liverpool-based Hyperion acts for clients and candidates across a comprehensive range of renewable energy sub-sectors including solar PV, solar thermal, heat pumps, biomass, wind turbines and fuel cells.