Supporting UK jobs and skills
Shell UK aims to help 15,000 people into jobs with a focus on the energy transition by 2035. Learn more about our plans to help upskill, reskill and empower a new generation of energy professionals.
In 2024, 78.2% of Shell’s global investments included oil & gas, 11.37% included low-carbon energy solutions and 10.43% non-energy products. Shell’s target is to become a net-zero emissions (NZE) energy business by 2050. Disclaimers, including NZE target: shell.com/disclaimer
In the UK, as the country moves towards its target of net-zero emissions by 2050, Shell UK aims to play a leading role in securing vital energy for today, while investing in, and helping to build, the energy system of the future.
The challenge
The UK’s journey to net zero is likely to provide unique economic and career opportunities for the country. But without the right investment, a skilled workforce, and access to jobs, there is a risk of leaving people behind.
It is estimated that by 2050 there will be 1.18 million net zero jobs available in the UK1 and there is currently a national workforce shortage to achieve net zero.
Our role in the energy transition
To help close this skills gap, Shell UK will support 15,000 people into jobs with a focus on the energy transition by 2035. We will do this in a number of ways, both within our own organisation and around the country. This includes supporting and investing in initiatives led by further education colleges, charities, skills bodies and other organisations helping people into employment.
1 Local Green Jobs Report for Local Government Association (LGA), September 2021
Energy Transition Skills Hubs
Energy Transition Skills Hubs, supported by Shell UK, provide teaching space and equipment demonstrating the latest energy technologies. The hubs across the UK provide students with the opportunity to learn and refine critical industry skills. These include welding and fabrication workshops, virtual control room facilities and lessons in nano grid design technology.
The Pembrokeshire and Fife Energy Transition Skills Hubs opened to students in Autumn 2024, while the Aberdeen Energy Transition Skills Hub opened in September 2025.
Fife College
Focus: NanoGrid learning. Courses on photovoltaics, solar photovoltaics installation and maintenance, wind turbine installation and maintenance, digital and data skills for energy, industrial automation, and more.
Pembrokeshire College
Focus: virtual control environments, including on and off wind, hydrogen plants and solar photovoltaics.
North East Scotland College
Focus: future technologies. Courses on welding, fabrication, engineering skills for future technologies including carbon capture and storage and wind turbine construction
Pembrokeshire Energy Transition Skills Hub
The hub at Pembrokeshire College in Haverfordwest, offers a new virtual control room centre on the existing campus. This innovative specialist centre provides immersive, hands-on training in control systems crucial for offshore floating wind, hydrogen production, solar photovoltaics and other emerging energy technologies. City and Guilds have developed an assured programme which rewards learners with a digital badge on completion. The training centre is available for school leavers, apprentices, existing energy professionals looking to upskill, and local businesses in need of a highly trained workforce. The facility also offers outreach programmes for schools and the wider community, raising awareness of energy transition and inspiring the next generation of engineers and energy professionals.
Fife Energy Transition Skills Hub
The Energy Transition Hub at Fife College has commenced learning and will provide students with an immersive nano grid learning environment.
Through hands-on, immersive learning, the Fife Hub provides opportunities for students to develop practical knowledge in renewable energy technologies, including SmartGrids, wind energy, and solar PV systems.
Students will explore various parts of the energy sector, such as solar power PV, installing and maintaining solar panels, setting up and looking after wind turbines. They will also learn about digital and data skills for energy, industrial automation, instrumentation and process control, plus advanced manufacturing, hydrogen for technicians and renewable energy systems.
The new facility features small scale solar panels and wind turbines, along with sensors and computers and software. This will help students learn grid design and management and give them hands-on experience with installing and maintaining these systems.
Aberdeen Energy Transition Skills Hub
Work is under way on a hub in Aberdeen. Due to open in September 2025, the hub will aim to significantly increase the capacity of the existing training facilities for fabrication skills on the existing campus at North East Scotland College and will aim to provide a flexible space able to adapt to the skills requirements of the future.
The Hub will be built on the site of a disused industrial site next to the college as an extension to the existing campus. The new building will quadruple the welding capacity of the existing training facilities at the college.
The hub aims to contribute to a just and inclusive energy transition by making a positive social impact on communities. It will do this by creating flexible training pathways, removing barriers to access to allow for upskilling and reskilling courses. There will also be an outreach programme to get schools involved and inspire the next generation. A mobile classroom staffed with an outreach worker and equipped with interactive technology will visit local schools aiming to inspire the next generation about the energy transition.
Some of the programmes we are supporting
Discover some of the organisations we are supporting to develop employability programmes, digital and data bootcamps, home energy efficiency qualifications, and education programmes.
Energise
Shell UK is supporting Catch22, a charity and social business on the “Energise” programme. This is a four-week employability skills programme, with a focus on the energy transition and supporting people into jobs. The programme will recruit people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and equip them with employability support and skills for life. Catch22 have been supporting learners across London, Norfolk, Manchester and Liverpool.
Powering Refugee Employment - Energy Skills Transition Programme
Breaking Barriers is a specialist refugee employment charity that support refugees into meaningful employment with advice and guidance, education, and training; helping people find financial independence, purpose, and identity through work. Shell UK is working with Breaking Barriers to launch the Powering Refugee Employment programme, that aims to support around 300 refugees into employment, education, or training across the UK.
Energy and Net-Zero Springboard
upReach is social mobility charity supporting undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds to access and sustain top graduate jobs. Shell UK is working with UpReach to launch the first “Energy and Net Zero Springboard” which will support undergraduates looking for jobs in this sector.
PowerUp
Shaw Trust is a leading employment charity helping people gain and sustain meaningful jobs, provide training for career progression, and champion community health and wellbeing. They offer tailored programmes to support people in upskilling, retraining and accessing new opportunities to drive positive employment opportunities. Shell UK is working with Shaw Trust on the “PowerUp” programme, which are short-online employability courses to support diverse groups with soft skills around getting into work and an insight to jobs in the energy sector.
The Net Zero Careers Accelerator
GoodPeople are a social enterprise connecting local communities to meaningful employment by partnering with public, private, and not-for-profit sectors to deliver place-based social value programmes. The Net Zero Careers Accelerator (NZCA) supported by Shell UK equips diverse Londoners with the skills and opportunities to make homes and buildings more energy efficient. Shell UK is working NZCA collaborate with housing associations, authorities and businesses to unlock jobs, and finds suitable candidates through partnerships with educational institutions and community partners.
Girls in Energy
Girls in Energy is a year-long engineering course for young people. It is sponsored by Shell UK and delivered in partnership with North East Scotland College and Fife College.
The Girls in Energy programme has been specifically designed to encourage young women to engage in STEM subjects, and to consider a career in the global energy sector through weekly lessons, workshops and field visits.
Domestic EV retraining
City & Guilds is working with Shell UK to increase the number of electricians in the country who have been trained to safely design, install and maintain domestic, small commercial EVC installations. This is through the City & Guilds Ofqual accredited qualifications, designed in partnership with industry.
Projects we have supported
Data For Energy Skills Accelerator
Shell UK was the founding supporter of an intensive eight-week online learning program that teaches sought-after data skills for free. Shell UK funded an 18-month project with FastFutures to deliver a job support program, teaching data and workplace skills, with a focus on the energy transition. The program provided learners with the opportunity to achieve a Power BI certificate and was targeted towards individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Sustainability Project Officer
Generation UK is a charity with a mission to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds into sustained employment. With Shell UK's support Generation UK delivered home energy efficiency qualifications through short intensive training programmes. Participants across the UK received wrap-around support and mentoring. Qualified retrofit advisors provide independent advice to homeowners regarding energy efficiency measures. This is a crucial sector in the energy transition as the UK moves towards home decarbonisation.
Naomi Hulston, Chief Executive Officer, Catch22“Through our partnership with Shell UK, we’re able to shape a curriculum that not only builds the confidence of participants, but also equips them with the core skills needed to secure jobs in the sector. The insight that Shell volunteers bring both to the programme development and through insight sessions to participants is invaluable.”
Supporting startups and entrepreneurs
Shell StartUp Engine UK
Shell StartUp Engine UK is an acceleration programme designed to boost energy startups in smart sectors like hydrogen, carbon capture, and EV charging, offering mentorship, skills, and Shell's global expertise.
Shell LiveWIRE Scotland
A trailblazer since 1982, Shell LiveWIRE Scotland is a growth impact programme for business owners and entrepreneurs ready to take their company to the next level.
