The UK’s energy sector is in transition. New, clean tech is replacing legacy systems, in line with the government’s commitment to clean energy and climate action outlined in the Climate Change Act. This promises economic growth, cleaner air, protection for the natural environment and 400,000 additional clean energy jobs by 2030. We look at the latest developments in digitalisation and digital twins, advanced generation and storage and small nuclear reactors, and examine how these technologies are reshaping engineering roles and recruitment needs.
The transition to clean energy
We’re already seeing the effects of human-induced climate change — sea ice, glaciers and ice sheets are melting, sea levels are rising, and extreme weather events are becoming more common. To limit the damage caused by burning fossil fuels, many countries have signed the Paris Agreement, which commits them to reach net zero by 2050, including our own, here in the UK.
The UK is already a leader in decarbonisation, and its net-zero sectors are growing at three times the rate of the overall economy, providing both environmental and economic benefits. In 2024, there were over 1,224,000 jobs in the clean energy sector, almost 3% of total UK employment, both directly and in the supply chain, generating over £111.9 billion for the economy. These jobs are 40% more productive than traditional energy roles, and command wages that are 15% higher than the UK average.
The potential for high-growth, high-value roles throughout the UK in emerging clean tech sectors isn’t simply about meeting vital climate change targets, it’s about attracting investment, boosting productivity and creating sustainable jobs in innovative industries such as:
Digitalisation and digital twins
From EV smart chargers to industry-led Energy Skills Passports, digital plays a pivotal role in decarbonising the UK. Almost 80% of large businesses have prioritised net zero in their 2026 plans, many relying on digital technologies to achieve their goals.
techUK, the trade association for people and organisations involved in digital technology, estimates that, if no other action were taken beyond the use of digital solutions, the country could still achieve a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050.
This can be achieved by technologies including:
Internet of Things (IoT) and Sensor networks, which collect real-time data on air quality, energy usage and water levels, enabling the proactive management of emissions
Digital twins, which perform modelling of infrastructure under various climatic conditions, offering insights on how to design and build structures, energy systems and transport networks to achieve maximum energy efficiency
AI and Machine Learning, which analyse datasets to identify opportunities to reduce carbon emissions
Smart grids and renewable energy can support energy security and reduce carbon emissions.
Advanced generation and storage
The government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan defines clean power as electricity from renewables (solar, wind and bioenergy), nuclear, gas with carbon capture and storage and hydrogen.
Central to the government’s plans is the use of nuclear technology, including both Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs), to generate low-carbon electricity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support energy resilience. Up to 20 SMRs are planned for the UK by the mid-2030s in partnership with private companies. The first of these SMRs is located at the Wylfa site in Anglesey and is scheduled to begin construction this year.
Power generation also requires storage to capture electricity and release it when needed. Grid-scale batteries allow surplus energy to be stored in a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and fed back into the national grid when demand spikes, providing a reliable, consistent energy supply.
The reshaping of engineering roles
New technologies demand new skills in addition to crossover skills from traditional industries. The Green Energy Jobs Plan lists 31 priority occupations, from carpenters and joiners to electricians and electrical fitters, from welders and engineering professionals to mechanical and electrical engineers and from quantity surveyors and CAD, drawing and architectural technicians to project managers and inspectors and testers, many of whom are already performing their roles in other industries and can make a seamless transition into clean energy production.
However, clean tech employers face a common challenge – a lack of skilled professionals. A 2025 report by the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee entitled ‘Workforce planning to deliver clean, secure energy’ estimates that around 250,000 additional workers (equivalent to around 35% of the current energy workforce in the UK) are needed to meet demand for the new energy economy. The government has urged industry to broaden its talent pool to include minority groups and people currently working outside the green economy (via an Energy Skills Passport), while emphasising the need for upskilling and retraining.
How a specialist recruiter can help
In the face of evolving skill-set requirements, employers must adopt a new approach to workforce planning and recruitment. By partnering with a specialist recruiter like JAM, they’re able to broaden their talent pools, identify skills gaps and gain valuable insight into what the roles of the not-too-distant future will look like.
We offer:
Skills mapping and market intelligence so that we’re able to benchmark existing skill sets against the demands of specific projects, predict where skills shortages might occur and offer advice on transferable skills and salary expectations
Identification of emerging and adjacent talent by looking beyond existing sources such as offshore oil and gas, advanced manufacturing, marine engineering and even defence, to provide a wider talent pool and help to reduce delays
Workforce planning and succession support for hard-to-fill roles through long-term pipelines, ensuring early access to relevant talent and a continuation of specialist knowledge
Candidate development through a deep understanding of emerging skills requirements that enable candidates to remain competitive and employers to access talent with the skills needed for clean energy projects
Regional resourcing to supply demand in new geographical locations throughout the UK, in response to increasing local-content requirements
Blended workforces that comprise permanent headcount supplemented by contingent talent and specialist contractors to support peaks in demand.
The UK’s clean tech sector is growing three times as fast as the wider UK economy, and annual investment of over £30 billion is anticipated by 2035. The government aspires to make the UK the most attractive place in Europe for clean growth investment and create hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country. Competition for skilled professionals is already tight, and employers that work with recruitment specialists to anticipate the challenges that they face now and tomorrow will be best placed to attract the talent they need to reach net zero and secure clean energy for the future.
For more information about how we can support your organisation's clean energy skills, contact us.