Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to expand (a) skills training and (b) apprenticeship schemes in the (i) renewable energy and (ii) energy efficiency sectors.

The government is committed to the UK becoming a Clean Energy Superpower, achieving clean power by 2030 and net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The government is working to ensure that the current and future skills system in England supports workers to retrain for the low carbon economy, including for critical sectors such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. The department’s initiatives include the new growth and skills offer, which will prioritise investment that supports economic growth, increases opportunity, better meets employers’ skills needs and increases investment in skills shortage areas. The Autumn Budget 2024 announced an additional £300 million for our further education (FE) sector, as well as £300 million of capital funding for FE condition, to support the development of the skills the country needs.

Over 40 of the occupational standards that underpin technical education in England directly support the clean energy industry. Others support insulation and energy efficiency in construction.

The government is committed to delivering the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, which will launch in the 2026/27 academic year for courses starting from January 2027. This will broaden access to high-quality, flexible education and training by providing funding for full courses as well as modules of high-value courses. Skills Bootcamps are available to support the workforce to gain new skills, including skills for the low carbon economy.

Skills England is a new national body which will bring together key partners to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all the regions and create a shared national ambition to boost England’s skills. It will provide authoritative assessments of skills needs, ensure a comprehensive suite of apprenticeships, training, and technical qualifications and work with devolved areas and regional organisations to ensure skills needs are met.

Skills England will work closely with the Office for Clean Energy Jobs at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which has been set up with a focus on developing a skilled workforce in core energy and net zero sectors. Skills England published its first report in September, highlighting the skills needed to support targets on net zero, the Clean Energy Mission and UK targets for environmental improvements.

Designated employer representative bodies are leading local skills improvement plans (LSIPs) across England. Education and training providers must have regard to the LSIP when making decisions on relevant provision. In order to approve an LSIP, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education must be satisfied that due consideration was given to the skills, capabilities and expertise required for jobs that directly contribute to, or indirectly support, net zero targets and adaptation to climate change or that meet other environmental goals.