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level up!

and the South East, have the potential to
build on existing areas of strength, such
as renewable energy, electric vehicle
manufacture, carbon capture, utilisation
and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen.
Some industries will require significant
upskilling. Those currently employed in
carbon-intensive sectors tend to be most
vulnerable to long-term unemployment.
To avoid this risk, the government
suggests those places will need to re-
skill their workforce so that the new
jobs created are located there.
As set out in the UK government’s DRAX POWER STATION, NORTH YORKSHIRE
10-Point Plan and Net Zero Strategy,
successful re-skilling of this type could United Kingdom – yet if the industry We hope that the white paper’s plan
boost living standards and support was supported to facilitate a wholesale to empower our regions with deeper
jobs in poor places undergoing the conversion of the gas networks to devolution and the autonomy to create
sharpest transition. hydrogen, we could do so much more.” tailored skills programmes that meet
Similarly, Professor Joe Howe, the needs of local industry can drive
HOW HAS THE ENGINEERING SECTOR Chair of the North West Hydrogen our work to achieve this.”
RESPONDED? Alliance and Executive Director, Energy EngineeringUK’s Head of Public
Howard Forster, Chief Operations Research Institute at the University Affairs Beatrice Barleon said: “We
Officer at Cadent, responded to the of Chester, stressed the importance welcome the long-term vision of
white paper by saying: “Our industry, of hydrogen in bringing economic the Levelling Up white paper and
along with some others, already opportunities to the UK’s industrial its recognition of the importance
delivers opportunities to some of the heartlands. He said: “Hydrogen will of education and skills in ensuring
poorest and most deprived parts of the be essential to delivering net zero and opportunity is spread more equally
United Kingdom. Cadent employs about driving the green industrial revolution. across the country.
6,000 staff, the vast majority of which “In regions like the North West, the “As the paper rightly recognises,
are highly skilled engineers. burgeoning hydrogen economy will ‘human capital’ is vital to the long-term
“For example, in South Yorkshire, one not only deliver the decarbonisation success of this country. Ensuring that
area identified by many as a levelling of our homes, industries and transport all young people regardless of where
up priority, we provide work to over 250 systems, it will drive new skills, they live, and their background, have
skilled engineers and support staff – thousands of jobs and millions of the opportunity to succeed must always
each one of which has the opportunity be central to that ambition.
to progress and grow their careers. “We also welcome the future skills
“I, and many colleagues, have benefited “In regions like the North unit and the engineering voice on the
from the opportunities for growth and West, the burgeoning hydrogen levelling up advisory council. Together
success that we all already enjoy. I economy will not only deliver with the wider engineering sector, we
think levelling up will be a success if, as have long argued for government to
Michael Gove suggests, it becomes about the decarbonisation of our have a better central understanding of
creating more of these opportunities homes, industries and transport the skills gaps in this country, enabling
across more parts of our country. systems, it will drive new skills, more targeted policies to fill those gaps.
“That is where private enterprises thousands of jobs and millions The engineering sector has for a long-
like Cadent can lead. We are working, as time struggled with skills shortages
part of our ambition to support the move of pounds of investment" and this provides a real opportunity to
towards net zero, to bring new skills, and address those challenges.
with them, new opportunities, to every pounds of investment. “The white paper rightly identifies
corner of our networks.” “We welcome the Levelling Up many of the challenges the country
He added: “As part of that plan, we white paper and urge government faces and brings together in a more
will by 2024 to open a hydrogen skills to continue to support hydrogen as coherent format the policies that
academy, preparing the engineers of the making a significant contribution to already exist to address those, as well
future. And we have committed to, by levelling up the UK.” as announces some new ones. We
the same year, developing a hydrogen Ged Barlow, Chief Executive of Net now look forward to working with the
education programme.” Zero North West, echoed this sentiment, different departments and the levelling
Looking to the future of the gas saying: “We welcome the publication up advisory council to develop some
industry, Mr Forster said: “We will of the Levelling Up white paper, which of the detail that will ensure that we as
be getting out there and creating is clear that the transformation of our a country provide young people with
opportunities for many thousands of industrial heartlands into clean growth STEM skills that they need in order to
young people and those who want to re- and green tech innovation hubs is access the sectors that will create the
train, opportunities in every part of the pivotal to delivering the key levelling up jobs of tomorrow wherever they are.”
UK in which Cadent operates to become mission of boosting productivity, pay,
an engineer in a new and exciting field. jobs and living standards. Read the full white paper Levelling
“The gas industry is already “The North West is uniquely Up the United Kingdom at www.gov.uk/
playing a significant role in bringing positioned to deliver the UK’s first government/publications/levelling-up-
opportunities to every corner of the low carbon industrial cluster by 2030. the-united-kingdom

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