22nd April 2024 – Today, the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Task and Finish Group (T&FG), comprising of the Carbon Capture & Storage Association (CCSA), bp, and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), announced the publication of their joint report, “Green Jobs Delivery Group – CCS Task and Finish Group, findings and recommendations of the group”. The report, announced at the CATCH training centre, in Stallingborough, signifies a significant milestone in shaping the future of green jobs in the UK. It will provide vital insights and recommendations to address critical skills gaps and opportunities in the CCS sector.

The report sets out the findings and conclusions from the extensive work of the CCS T&FG. It serves to inform the government’s Green Jobs Action Plan while enabling the CCS sector to navigate skills challenges and opportunities effectively. Focussed primarily on the transport and storage aspects of the CCS sector, the report provides key insights from comprehensive sector-wide inputs between mid-2023 and early 2024.

It highlights that CCS can play a pivotal role in industrial decarbonisation, particularly in unlocking opportunities in blue hydrogen production and in the safeguarding of existing heavy industries and deliver a significant contribution to the future of the UK economy. It also notes that the sector offers opportunities for a transitioning workforce and for international collaboration.

An in-depth labour market analysis revealed the projected workforce demand for CCS transport and storage roles from 2023-2030. Projections show potential peaks of up to 3,000 direct roles in a single year by 2030, with broader direct CCS sector roles peaking at up to 15,000 in a single year during the same period. The report underscores the urgency of addressing skills shortages to ensure the successful deployment of CCS projects.

The analysis also identified critical ‘pinch points’ in occupational demand – including across welding, pipefitting, and geosciences – highlighting challenges such as overlapping skill requirements with other sectors, aging labour profiles, and workforce diversity concerns. The report emphasises the importance of addressing skills shortages to maximise the accessibility of these role to local workforce, avoid inflation of labour costs and maintain the sector’s competitiveness.

The report proposes three key sets of actions to address skills challenges effectively:

• Continued and increasingly galvanised industry investment in skills development initiatives, including STEM outreach, apprenticeship programmes, and vocational training.
• Enhanced place-based coordination of skills activities within CCS clusters, supported by wider cross-government policies to drive CCS deployment.
• Sustained government support and investment in CCS policy to provide certainty for job creation and skill development.

Quotes:

Olivia Powis, UK Director at the CCSA, said: “The findings of this report highlight the critical importance of urgent and targeted interventions to tackle skills shortages and promote workforce development in the CCS sector. By aligning industry initiatives with government policies, we can collaboratively address challenges and opportunities in CCS deployment, driving economic growth and achieving net zero ambitions while fostering a sustainable future for generations to come.”

Andy Lane, VP of Hydrogen and CCUS for the UK, and Chair of The CCS Task and Finish Group said “CCS will play a vital role in the UK’s net zero transition plans and could make a substantial contribution to the future of the UK economy. To deliver on that potential it will need the combined efforts of Government, industry, skills bodies, unions and others to help the UK build the skills the sector needs to thrive. This report is a great example of that collaboration in action and is another important step for the future of the sector.”

Andrew Hockey, CEO of the ECITB said “Collaboration among diverse stakeholders is the cornerstone of progress.  It was a privilege for the ECITB to contribute towards the joint endeavour of producing this report which highlights the fusion of expertise from our respective organisations and emphasises the importance of skills development in driving forwards our collective journey towards a greener and more resilient economy.  Increased investment from both industry and government in developing skills initiatives and vocational training will bolster our ability to integrate CCS technologies into our industrial and energy sectors.  This will enable us to bridge the gap between our current reliance on fossil fuels and a future where we can sustain energy security through renewable sources.”

David Talbot, CEO CATCH said: “CATCH was delighted to host the unveiling of the new Green Jobs and Carbon Capture & Storage report.  Standing at the forefront of the transformation, CATCH aim to deliver 1000 new entrants to industry per year by 2029, with our vision for a new National Net Zero Training Centre.  This initiative is a direct response to the urgent need highlighted in recent labour market analysis, which forecasts a significant increase in workforce demand across industrial clusters by 2030.  The new centre, backed by CCS industries, is designed to address critical ‘pinch points’ in demand for welding & pipefitting skills, ensuring learners are well-prepared to contribute to the sector’s growth.  By focusing on specialised training and development, we are taking a proactive step towards mitigating skill shortages, enhancing workforce diversity, and fostering a competitive edge within the industry.”