Building skills for the energy transition
Shell UK is investing in people and communities to help build the workforce the UK will need on its journey towards net zero.
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.
Meet Jenny from Shell UK. We’re aiming to help 15,000 people into jobs, with a focus on the energy transition by 2035.
What jobs and skills will be needed for the energy transition?
It is estimated that by 2050, there could be 1.18 million net zero jobs available in England alone, but not enough people with the skills to fill them.1 That estimate suggests that the UK needs to grow its workforce and develop the skills required to make net zero a reality. The skills required will include:
Electric vehicle charging installation engineers
Skilled electricians to install and maintain electric vehicle (EV) chargers up and down the country.
Welders
Welders to build and maintain onshore and offshore wind turbines, as well as other technology.
Virtual control systems operators
Virtual control systems operators to work in control rooms across a variety of energy sectors including hydrogen plants and offshore wind.
Electrical and data engineers
Electrical and data engineers to work in grid design and management, as well as installation and maintenance of the systems.
1 Local Green Jobs Report for Local Government Association (LGA), September 2021
The Shell UK SkillsTransition Programme: investing in jobs and skills
To help close the net zero skills gap, Shell UK has developed the SkillsTransition programme. Through targeted investment, this programme aims to help 15,000 people into jobs, with a focus on the energy transition by 2035.
The programme will invest in skills development initiatives across the UK’s skills eco-system: led by Further Education Colleges, charities, community groups and skills bodies. The programme aims to help UK workers at all levels and ages take up opportunities presented by the energy transition. Shell UK wants as many people as possible to benefit from the energy system of the future, so that the transition can be an opportunity for everyone.
Energy Transition Skills Hubs
Work has started on three energy transition skills hubs, supported by Shell UK, at North East Scotland College and Fife College in Scotland, and Pembrokeshire College in Wales.
The Pembrokeshire and Fife energy transition skills hubs are open to students, while the Aberdeen Energy Transition Skills Hub will open in 2025.
Helping people into jobs
Over 4,000 people across the UK have already been supported with energy transition skills, through partnerships with specialist employability charities like Catch 22, Breaking Barriers, Shaw Trust, UpReach and Good People. The Shell UK SkillsTransition programme aims to reach people from a range of backgrounds, education levels and income disparities, with a lens on disadvantaged communities. For example, Shell UK SkillsTransition funding has enabled Catch22 to support hundreds of unemployed people from disadvantaged communities across England into meaningful jobs.
Installing electric vehicle chargers
Shell UK is offering drivers more reliable access to EV charging near-home, at work and on the go.
Helping power the UK now, and into the future
From providing access to electric vehicle (EV) chargers, to helping supply UK gas, to building skills for the energy transition. Learn how Shell UK is helping power the UK now, and into the future.
Shell’s target is to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.
Shell’s climate target
Tackling climate change is an urgent challenge. That’s why Shell’s target is to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050. This means net-zero carbon emissions from our operations. It also means net-zero carbon emissions from the energy products we sell, including those produced by others, which currently account for over 90% of the total emissions we report.
Shell are investing $10-15 billion on low-carbon energy solutions between 2023 and the end of 2025. Shell are also investing in oil and gas production with lower emissions as we provide energy today while helping to build the low-carbon energy system of the future.
Frequently asked questions
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