How the UK’s 400,000 New Green Energy Jobs Can Power True Inclusion and Opportunity

📣 Fantastic news – the UK Government has unveiled plans to create 400,000 new jobs in the clean-energy sector.

This is a landmark moment: a huge opportunity to accelerate our transition to a low-carbon economy and to create meaningful, well-paid work right across the country.

But here’s the thing: filling the roles is only the beginning.

What really matters is how we bring new recruits into the fold – from non-traditional recruiting grounds and set them up so they succeed, progress and perform without invisible barriers.

Here’s what needs our attention:

🌱 Build the pipelines – If we’re sourcing talent from diverse backgrounds, we must invest in training pathways, mentoring, bridging programmes and accessible entry routes so that people don’t get stuck or leave.

🤝 Inclusive on-boarding and culture – It’s not enough to hire someone; we must welcome them into a culture where they feel they belong, where they have role-models, allies, and clarity about how they can progress.

📊 Fair progression and performance systems – As the sector grows fast, organisations must keep an eye on how promotion, performance evaluation and career development work. Are they truly equitable? Do they assume a “traditional” career path or background?

🔧 Remove structural barriers – Flexible working, inclusive leadership, transparent criteria, visible progression paths – all these reduce the risk of “one of us vs them” scenarios in big recruitment drives.

🌍 Whole-organisation mindset – Inclusion isn’t just a HR programme. It’s woven through the supply-chain, the contractors, the regional infrastructure, the way projects are sited, the local skills efforts. This job-boom must benefit all communities, not just the obvious ones.

👏 To our partners and friends at WUN – Womens Utilities Network POWERful Women, AXIS Network , Energy Voice, Women in New Energy, Energy & Utility Skills, OEUK LIMITED, and everyone involved in the green energy transition – let’s seize this moment. Let’s make sure that this 400,000-job milestone is not just about numbers, but about opportunity, belonging and progression.