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Europe leads the world in offshore wind, with almost half of the world’s offshore wind turbines generating electricity off the coastline of UK, Germany, Denmark
Wind energy is the key power generation technology being used in to address climate change and energy security issues faced today.
The technology is an attractive choice as it is clean, reliable and quick to install. The wind industry has grown from almost nothing 20 years ago to a multi-billion pound global industry, and it is still expanding fast, typically by around 20 percent every year.
So the question is: what are the potential career options in this sector? Its not just engineers and technicians, it includes logistics, sailors, stevedores, project managers, translators, accountants mathematicians. As part of our project we are going to look at everything related to jobs in the renewable energy business.
• How an offshore wind project is created and who is involved in the different steps;
• What career opportunities exist are and what people do in their jobs;
• Entry routes into the industry –
• Prospects for your career progression.
This careers guide is focused on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) related technical careers.
Some of the jobs are skilled crafts people and technicians; others are scientists, divers, pilots and engineers.
Entry into the industry has been varied – from school leavers to postdoctoral students. When we visited Maersk everyone had to be a qualified technician, but when we visitde Northumberland college the jobs were for school leavers.
What kind of qualifications do you need ? There are many roles that you can aim for as soon as you leave education – whether you are more vocationally focused or targeting a graduate level career. Other openings require hands-on experience that you can set your sights on as a longer-term goal. Craft and technician careers: Are you good with your hands? If so, you may want to focus on the craft and technician careers.