Introducing The New OWIC Military Working Group

RenewableUK – the leading membership association for the renewable energy sector – highlights an exciting new Working Group designed to help boost the industry workforce for the future.

Accelerated growth of the renewable energy sector

Accelerated growth of the renewable energy sector remains key for the fulfilment of UK and global net zero targets. Success depends significantly on transitioning skills, technologies and experience from other industries, utilising the existing infrastructure and workforce to support innovation and development in renewables. While many individuals and organisations are transitioning from the oil and gas sector, there is a focus on other avenues from which workers may come.

A new Military Working Group has been created by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), tasked with attracting ex-military personnel to the green energy workforce. More specifically, it is looking to facilitate the movement of ex-servicepeople into the offshore wind industry. Their skills and experience accrued from working with multi-national teams and in high-pressure situations, as well as their interpersonal skills and adaptability make them perfectly positioned to continue their careers in offshore wind.

Of course, the breadth of roles within the military means that individuals may come from varying backgrounds for an even more diversified workforce. For example, those leaving staff roles may be very well suited to public or enabling sectors in offshore wind as well.

As part of the project, the OWIC is looking to provide support for individuals as they transition and settle into the offshore wind industry, utilising its extensive professional networks to connect the right people and the right opportunities. The organisation is also creating a best practice guide for employers to reach out to service leavers and veterans, and then provide any help they need to excel in their new career pathway. The OWIC is also putting together a more general renewable energy guide with a focus on offshore wind to indicate where the jobs are, what they entail and which may be most suitable for ex-military professionals. This will include explanations of terminology and how specific roles may differ – for example, ‘high voltage’ in renewable energy is not the same as in other industries! All of this will be supported by a presence at major transition events throughout the year as well as online sessions to highlight opportunities and key roles in the offshore wind sector, and a rapidly expanding LinkedIn community.

Though focused primarily on transitioning into offshore wind, there is clearly plenty of scope for development into the onshore and floating wind sectors as well. Over time, the Working Group may be expanding its resources and support within these fields too.

Colin Brown, Business Development Manager at Aker Offshore Wind and a former Royal Navy submariner, is the Chair of the OWIC Military Working Group. About the project, he comments:

“As the offshore wind industry grows, we require smart recruitment to ensure we increase the talent base at all levels of business to meet the future demand. The ca.14,000 people leaving the armed forces each year offers a diverse talent pool for businesses to find the personal and technical skills and competencies needed to grow our industry.

“When people leave the armed forces it’s a huge step for them – the things civilians take for granted can be foreign to veterans. Finding a new job is normally at the top of the agenda, but job hunting, CVs and interviews tend to be a new concept to most. This means good employees are overlooked, and therefore valuable creation lost because their CV doesn’t tick the boxes. It’s a scenario that doesn’t help the individual or the industry.

This working group wants to turn that around to create a win-win. We are driven to help attract the talent needed and support businesses to understand the benefits and mechanisms to maximise the opportunity that exists from this talent pool, as well as the bespoke challenges veterans face.

“This is a great opportunity for our industry and those that embrace it will reap the benefits.”

Colin recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of Aker Offshore Wind to demonstrate the company’s commitment to being a forces-friendly employer. This constitutes a dedication to ensuring that ex-servicepeople and their families are given fair opportunities for work and employment support. More details can be found at https:// www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/.

Military service leavers and veterans are just one population to help boost the renewable energy workforce, with a substantial proportion of individuals transitioning from oil and gas, as well as other traditional energy sectors. The similarities between working environments and therefore skills offer clear advantages as the world moves towards greener energy generation, storage and transport. Plus, anyone coming from a background of electrical installation or management, health and safety or project management roles, logistics and people transportation also possess many transferable skills that will be of great use within renewable energy.

Celia Anderson, Offshore Wind Sector Deal – People & Skills Director, highlights the benefits of a more cohesive approach as the renewable energy industry develops:

“We have a commitment to the entire sector and aim to support people from different backgrounds as they transition. Right now, approximately 15-20% of the offshore wind workforce in the UK consists of military veterans – in the US the proportion is much higher (likely more than double this) – demonstrating the value they bring to the growth of renewable energy and the opportunities available to support that development while providing exciting employment prospects for ex-service people. Everyone is different, of varying backgrounds, ages, experiences and education levels. The offshore wind industry wants and needs to be as diverse and inclusive as possible this is one population that may benefit substantially from more structured support into what is a thriving industry with a bright future.”

Renewable energy, especially when it comes to offshore wind, remains a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry. Making it easier for ex-military personnel to transfer their skills and experience for a smooth transition into the workforce is a proactive way of supporting future growth.

For information and the latest webinar can be found at www.owic.org.uk/military

More details about RenewableUK can be accessed at www.renewableuk.com