ScottishPower has launched its biggest ever recruitment drive, as it looks to hire at least 1,000 new recruits in the next 12 months.
The move follows the company securing a record number of green energy infrastructure projects in the first half of 2022, it said.
These include:
- Winning Contracts for Difference support for 16 renewable energy projects across offshore wind, onshore wind and solar in the Allocation Round 4 process. This is a total of 2.1GW, and will almost double the company’s green energy generation capacity and involve £4 billion in investment
- National Grid ESO’s Holistic Network Design plan – released earlier this month – set out the need for £5 billion in investment across 12 of SP Energy Networks (SPEN) onshore transmission projects to help deliver the UK’s offshore wind targets
- Ofgem’s Draft Determination for the RIIO-ED2 price control period included a £3 billion upgrade for SPEN’s distribution network
- ScottishPower won seabed rights for three offshore projects with a total capacity of 7GW in the ScotWind auction, including two large-scale floating projects it is developing in partnership with Shell. Together, these projects treble the company’s offshore wind pipeline to more than 10GW
“The momentum of the first six months of 2022 and our record of achievement now gives us our biggest ever investment pipeline of green energy assets to help deliver the Government’s energy strategy and net zero for the UK,” said Keith Anderson, ScottishPower CEO.
“As a direct result, we now need at least 1,000 people to join us in new positions over the next twelve months to design, build and operate this green energy infrastructure and that’s why today, we’re issuing our biggest ever call for green recruits right across the country to fulfil our ambitions.”
ScottishPower is hiring for roles across all areas of its business and at all stages, it stated, from trainees to time served trades.
It follows the company announcing the appointment of the new CEO of its electricity networks, Vicky Kelsall, earlier this month.
COP26 president Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP welcomed the launch of the recruitment drive.
“In November 2020 the UK Government launched the Green Jobs Taskforce to support the creation of 2 million skilled jobs to build back greener from the Covid-19 pandemic, and reach net zero emissions by 2050,” he added.
“Long term, good quality green jobs are crucial for the UK’s economic recovery and tackling climate change. This green jobs push will help set the direction for the market as we transition to a high skill, low carbon economy.”
