RUK’s Ports & Vessels Conference

GWO’s CEO, Jakob Lau Holst will join a panel in the Renewables UK Conference in Hull at the end of this month. Panelists will discuss “Maintaining a safe, global offshore wind workforce” and a just transition for the offshore workforce from different industries.

The UK is renowned as an early adopter of offshore wind. There are currently 52 training providers operating in the UK and a growing GWO trained workforce of over 17,000 individuals.  

GWO and its members see oil and gas workers as an attractive workforce, whose prior qualifications (broadly speaking within mechatronics and energy) could become an asset to the growing wind sector. This presents the question: how can skills acquired in other industries be recognised when transitioning into the wind industry workforce?  

Holst explains: “The transition of the workforce is a great opportunity for cooperation between our different industries bodies to foster a dialogue. The issues for debate will revolve around how offshore health & safety stakeholder groups like RUK, OPITO, G+ and IMCA, can and will, work together to ensure appropriate application of safety standards and avoid duplication wherever possible.”

During the RUK Ports & Vessels Conference in Hull on March 31st, Jakob Lau Holst will be joined by Rhys Jones (Renewables UK), Iain Grainger (IMCA), Beate Hildebrand (G+) and Andy Williamson (OPITO) to discuss opportunities. The conversation will expand on how we can map out the challenges and opportunities, while allowing the wind industry to maintain their employer prerogative to set safety standards as global markets scale up.

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