Wind-power industry storms ahead after more than 2,000 jobs created

More than 2,000 jobs have been created in the UK’s wind-power sector in the past year, according to the industry.
Wind turbines have created hundreds of job, industry bosses sayWind turbines have created hundreds of job, industry bosses say
Wind turbines have created hundreds of job, industry bosses say

The number of people directly employed in the medium and large-scale sectors of the onshore and offshore wind industry has risen by eight per cent to more than 15,400 full-time jobs, a report by industry body RenewableUK said.

The number of indirect jobs, such as supplying components, has also increased by eight per cent since September 2013, to almost 15,000 jobs, bringing the total number of people whose livelihood is from the sector to more than 30,400, the report said.

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Most of the jobs require qualifications in science, technology, engineering and maths, and around 2,250 direct and indirect jobs in offshore and onshore wind have been created in just over 12 months.

The study also shows that new onshore wind farms have delivered £1.6bn of investment in a year, while investment in offshore wind was £1bn.

Since local authorities were able to keep business rates from new onshore wind projects in April 2013, English onshore wind projects now contribute £5.9m a year to councils.

RenewableUK chief executive Maria McCaffery said: “Nearly two-and-a-half thousand people have joined the UK wind industry’s dynamic, highly motivated workforce over the last year.”

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Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary Edward Davey said: “The energy sector is powering Britain’s economic recovery – and the jobs created in the wind industry show why Britain’s the global number one for offshore wind capacity and investment.”