What Work – Suffolk 2015/16 | Page 12

What Work – Suffolk 2015 / 2016 ENERGY (INCLUDING RENEWABLES) The focus is very much on the future when it comes the energy sector with low carbon or ‘green’ technology high on the agenda. The government has targets it has to meet to help reduce climate change around the world. It’s not just about constructing, assembling and monitoring - engineers and technicians will be designing and testing the buildings, vehicles and mobile phones of the future! What is happening? Skills & qualities • Lowestoft (and Great Yarmouth) is home to England’s largest cluster of energy businesses. An Enterprise Zone has been created in this area creating up to 13,500 jobs1. • Despite the current downturn in the sector due to the fall in energy prices, it’s likely that new jobs will be created over the coming years. Useful subjects • Green economy is a priority sector for the UK meaning extra support for ‘green collar’ jobs in wind and wave power; energy and waste management; sustainable construction; carbon capture; bio energy, nuclear and plug-in electric vehicles. • Skilled people in high demand especially qualification level 4 and above. • Shortage of mechanical, structural, aeronautical, electrical engineers; wind turbine technicians; geologists. • Demand for more ‘eco-friendly’ goods means more people to certify products – especially around technology. • Several wind farms built or planned off the East Anglian coast such as Galloper and East Anglia One; others are in the pipeline. • Potential local large scale developments in nuclear energy to create thousands of new jobs. On the web www.bconstructive.co.uk www.futuremorph.org www.euskills.co.uk/careers www.sciencecareerpathways.com What could you earn?* Conservation manager £30,200 Design engineer £38,500 Engineering technician £33,600 Mechanical engineer £40,600 Lab technician £21,900 Energy plant operative £28,800 Environmental services manager £34,400 Local employers • Flow Energy • Haven • UK Power Networks • Siemens • Smartest Energy • SSE • EDF Energy • GTC (Gas Transportation Company) 10 1 Suffolk County Council * Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2014. Average full-time (median) salary rounded to the nearest £100. Doesn’t include self employed.