Find your place in the transition to renewable energy
Welcome to Clean Power Careers
- Starting out in my career
- Looking for a change
Plan your first steps
As the UK Government has plans to achieve Net Zero by 2050 and decarbonize its electricity grid by 2030, renewable energy will play an increasingly important role in keeping the lights on and powering our homes.
Working in this sector, you can play your part in building a greener future away from fossil fuels, with better access to affordable energy we all need to live our lives.
Renewable energy isn't just for engineers, but there's work for those who want to plan and manage projects, influence policy, work with new technology and digital services, and protect the environment. Depending on your role, you can work from your home, an office, a factory or even out at sea.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are a key route into the industry, or way of upskilling to take on a new role, and are also a great way to earn money while you learn new skills.
You can find apprenticeships for a whole range of occupations – including opportunities near you using the government’s ‘Find An Apprenticeship’ tool.
The following organisations working in the renewable energy sector also offer apprenticeship and trainee programs for renewables:
Graduate schemes and internships
Large international companies offer graduate schemes tailored specifically to renewable energy. They generally accept people with either STEM degrees or with a commercially focused mindset. These graduate schemes include (but are by no means limited to) the following:
- EDF ⧉
- Equinor ⧉
- Ørsted ⧉
- RES (Renewable Energy Systems) ⧉
- JDR Cables ⧉
- RWE Renewables ⧉
- ScottishPower ⧉
To get an idea of organisations operating in the renewables space, you can browse the member directory of RenewableUK ⧉, the UK's leading not-for-profit association representing the industry.
Find your place in clean power
Browse our library of case studies and example roles in renewable energy to learn from real people in the sector and view practical steps you can take to build a career that suits you.
Change your career
You may already be in the workforce (whether in energy or another sector) and looking for a change. Renewable energy and clean power offer opportunities for people to transition from multiple areas, and find rewarding work at various stages of their careers.
Generalist roles in business functions
For roles in HR, finance, communications, project management and more you might find your skills are sector-neutral and you need no new qualifications– but a willingness to learn and make a difference always helps! Browse the RenewableUK member directory to get a flavor of the Companies involved in renewable energy.
Transitioning your skills for technical roles
Work on a wind farm: find a training provider
For those looking to work onsite at windfarms (for example, as technicians or engineers), the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) provides a minimum set of training standards required for working on wind farms. You can find a provider near you using the GWO's interactive tool ⧉.
If you are interested in roles as a technician the GWO Entry Level Framework⧉ sets out the knowledge, skills and abilities for identified entry level roles in the wind industry.
Support for training
If you are in Scotland and Wales you may be able to access direct funding to support the training you want to undertake.
Careers Wales ⧉ and Skills Development Scotland ⧉ can provide further information advice and guidance on access to careers.
In England the Skills for Life campaign ⧉ is the place to go to explore the next steps in your career journey.
Transition from oil and gas
Wind energy is one of many attractive green career options for those seeking alternative employment to oil & gas or other carbon-intensive sectors. For example, a huge number of people working in offshore wind started out in offshore oil & gas, who possess technical and logistical skills that are highly sought after. RenewableUK is working to ensure that pathways are available for employees in these sectors who are looking to reskill, to make the move as seamlessly as possible into renewables. One of these pathways is via the Energy Skills passport initiative ⧉, which allows workers across the energy industry to find opportunities that align with their background training.
Transition from the armed forces
Many members of the Armed Forces community also make the transition into the renewables sector after service in the military… Skills gained from service like working as part of a team in challenging conditions, operating complex machinery, or even being able to pilot a helicopter - are useful during the construction and operation of wind farms. Further information and support can be sourced through Mission Renewable ⧉ , which specialises in supporting companies to access talent from the armed forces.
Returning after a career break
The following companies offer clean energy-focused returner programmes to help people get back into the workforce after taking time out of work for illness, to raise children or any other reason.
- Current Programmes - STEM Returners ⧉
- DORIS returner programme ⧉
- OWC returner programme ⧉
- Orsted returner programme ⧉
- RWE ⧉
- ScottishPower ⧉
The STEM returners programme showcases live roles across STEM, including many roles in clean energy, for those returning to the workforce after time off.
