The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has revealed that the Government will invest in a job creation programme to help the UK fight itself out of recession...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7810178.stm
Mr Brown told The Observer newspaper of a £10bn programme of investment in new technologies and green projects. He said "improving the environment was part of the solution to the recession". He went on to explain that "Investments will be made in eco-friendly projects such as electric cars and wind and wave power, which will create jobs."
Whilst it is true that significant opportunities for job creation exist within the wind industry, it is debateable as to whether a meaningful impact can be made by industry investment alone.
Wind energy is a highly-skilled area. It is not an industry where a tranche of apprentices can be taken on and put into work with little training. Rather than going for cheap headlines and quick short-term wins, the government needs to address the real needs of the industry.
What is required is a tandem approach; industry investment coupled with investment in training. The Government needs to support local schools/colleges and universities, who, (working with industry partners) can develop a range of academic and vocational courses suited to the needs of the industry. Only then can wind farm developers, operators and job-seekers alike, benefit from the influx of support thats sweeping across the UK.
0 comments:
Post a Comment