Building a Skilled Solar Workforce in the UK

At the end of July, trade association Solar Energy UK launched Solar Careers UK with the aim of guiding "every person possible" into solar careers. According to Sturge Mazzocchi, head of Solar Careers UK, "key to this mission is ensuring that workers of today and tomorrow see the solar industry as a place where they can build successful and fulfilling careers regardless of their background".

This initiative is a key part of the UK government's Solar Roadmap, a government-industry paper setting out 72 practical measures to achieve 60GW installed solar by 2030. It divided actions into six categories, including one dedicated to skills with 11 objectives like improving training and mapping routes to competence.

Mark Wakeford, chairman of EvoEnergy’s executive board and a member of the Solar Taskforce, highlights two key issues: how to get the right number of people into the industry and how to ensure they are qualified. He now chairs the solar skills steering group appointed to deliver the industry’s skills commitment.

Establishing a Competent Solar Workforce

Establishing measurable competencies is crucial for industry members to have clear criteria for prospective employees. Government departments are awaiting clarity on required skills to plot routes to competency. Wakeford notes this is challenging due to the newness of the industry and lack of universal qualifications.

Another pressure is the Building Safety Act 2022, which includes the solar industry in the construction sector with legal requirements for workforce competency. Wakeford is pushing to mitigate reputational risks, especially with concerns about fire safety and competency records.

To address this, the solar skills working group is collaborating with a "big platform provider" to create a way for individuals to record their skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviors (SKEBs), enabling employers to determine and record competency.

Building a Solar Talent Pool

The Solar Careers Programme aims to create about 43,000 jobs to meet capacity targets. Mazzocchi mapped out a talent pool goal of 2,000 strong by year one, growing to 4,000-6,000. This pool will be fed from careers events, outreach, and social media, with an AI-enabled platform to match candidates to job vacancies automatically.

Initiatives include a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), leveraging groups like Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu), and vocational training programs like the Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) in Northampton, which has been highly successful.

Awareness is key, with metrics like website hits and event attendance used to track progress before long-term retention metrics are available.

A Digital Platform for Solar Skills and Job Vacancies

The three main goals are to promote career opportunities, support recruitment, and promote training. Mazzocchi emphasizes guiding all interested individuals into solar, regardless of background.

The six most in-demand roles identified are:

1. Small-scale solar PV designer & installer
2. Small-scale solar PV project manager
3. Commercial and industrial solar PV installer
4. Commercial and industrial solar PV design engineer
5. Commercial and industrial solar PV project manager
6. Utility-scale site technician

Job descriptions for four roles are already on the website, with routes to competence published for three. Operations include digital and in-person elements, such as careers hub events, with plans for geographical spread and interactive jobs maps.

Once foundational work is done, the programme aims to continue growing and adapting to meet industry needs, ensuring a skilled and diverse workforce. "The next part is to be ready for expansion," says Mazzocchi.