Clean Energy Jobs Fair held in Birmingham

12 Nov 2026 04:18 PM

Energy Secretary joins 400 young people at Birmingham Clean Energy Jobs Fair

  • Energy Secretary and Local Energy and Jobs Minister join hundreds of young people and jobseekers at the third Clean Energy Jobs Fair in Birmingham
  • Thousands of extra jobs in clean energy expected in the West Midlands by end of decade
  • Young people speak to employers including National Grid, Centrica and Octopus about work and training opportunities

Over 400 young people and jobseekers met with some of the UK’s largest clean energy employers at the third Clean Energy Jobs Fair, held at University College Birmingham today (Thursday, 12 November).

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Local Energy and Jobs Minister Martin McCluskey joined young people at the event, as employers such as Octopus and National Grid showcased the jobs and training opportunities being created across the region as Britain builds its clean energy future.

The event comes as the Prime Minister attends COP31 where he welcomed £12 billion investment for two major new UK offshore wind projects believed to be the biggest in UK history, powering millions of homes and supporting thousands of jobs.

Ahead of the upcoming Milburn review, around 400 15 to 18-year-olds from local schools and colleges, as well as 50 who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs), met employers to find work and build careers in the sector.

The government is working with a range of employers to help NEETs into work, such as National Grid’s £5 million fund to upskill them into energy and infrastructure jobs.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said:

Our clean power drive has already attracted over £110 billion in private investment, bringing new jobs to thousands across the country.

This is the economic opportunity of this century, and I want young people entering the job market today to be able to seize it.

From electricians, engineers, and welders to those working in the technologies of the future, there is a place for everyone in Britain’s clean energy economy.

Backed by record government and private sector investment in fields like renewables and nuclear, the clean energy economy is driving a boom in demand for good industrial jobs across the UK – with 31 priority occupations such as plumbers, electricians, and welders particularly in demand.

For young people, that can mean better-paid careers from the outset, including in jobs AI simply can’t do. Entry-level roles in the majority of clean energy occupations pay 23% more than the same occupations in other sectors.

The West Midlands Clean Energy Jobs Fair is the latest in a series of events across the country, following the first fair, held in the North East in 2025.

The fairs follow the launch of the government’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan, which sets out how the clean energy mission could support thousands of extra clean energy jobs in the West Midlands by 2030.

The West Midlands is already home to major clean energy initiatives including Tyseley Energy Park and seven demonstrator Net Zero Neighbourhoods, as well as innovation and technology centre Energy Systems Catapult and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre in Coventry.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

Our region’s transition to clean energy has created a fast-growing sector that already employs in excess of 20,000 people.

We expect that figure to more than double over the next decade, thanks to our biggest ever programme of energy upgrades to homes, businesses and public buildings, as well as plans to cement our region as a major battery technology and manufacturing hub.

It’s essential that we train our young people in the skills needed for these jobs of the future. I recently met a young man in Coventry who went from one of our retrofit bootcamps to a well-paid job in a matter of weeks. That’s exactly the kind of opportunity we want to open up for more local people.

Professor Rosa Wells, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (FE College Principal, Apprenticeships & STEM) at University College Birmingham, said:

We are proud to host the Clean Energy Jobs Fair alongside our Green Skills Advisory Panel, bringing government, industry and education together to help people across the West Midlands seize the opportunities of clean energy.

University College Birmingham is committed to developing the skilled workforce this transition demands, working with employers to create clear routes through further and higher education into rewarding careers.

Cordi O’Hara, Executive President at National Grid UK, said:

Choosing a career and deciding what to do next can be daunting for many young people. Events like this make a real difference. Students can talk to apprentices and graduates who were in their shoes not long ago, ask questions and find out what a career in energy actually involves, and whether it might be right for them.

For those who like what they hear, applications for our apprenticeship and graduate programmes open this week. But we know not every young person is in a position to take that step, which is why, through our £5m Power Within Employability Fund, we’re working with specialist partners to reach young people facing greater barriers and help them into work.

Chris O’Shea, Chief Executive of Centrica:

The energy transition is creating real jobs and careers right across Britain. At Centrica, we need the next generation of engineers and skilled people to help build and operate the energy system of the future. These are good, well-paid jobs with a future, and we want young people to understand the opportunities a career in energy can offer. That’s why we’re committed to recruiting 3,500 apprentices by 2030.

Chris Drake, Country HR Manager at Hitachi Energy, said:

The transition to a sustainable energy future depends on attracting talented people from every background and at every stage of their career journey. At Hitachi Energy, we are committed to creating opportunities that are accessible, inclusive, and rewarding, whether someone is entering the workforce for the first time, returning to employment, or seeking a new career in the clean energy sector.

Events such as the Clean Energy Jobs Fair play an important role in connecting people with the skills, training and career pathways that will help deliver the UK’s net-zero ambitions while creating lasting economic opportunity for local communities.

Rachel McCrystal, Social Impact and Sustainability Manager at Daikin UK said:

The clean energy transition will depend on people with the skills to deliver it. That means giving young people a clear view of the careers available, from engineering and installation to training, technical support and commercial roles. This event is an important opportunity to turn a broad ambition into something students can see, understand and consider for their own future.

Guy Newey, CEO of Energy Systems Catapult, said:

Every young person at this fair is a potential founder, innovator or entrepreneur. By joining a UK clean energy firm, or starting their own, they could help deliver cleaner energy, tackle fuel poverty and power growth right across the UK. Day in, day out, we work with entrepreneurs who are building the energy system of the future. I’d love to see more young people join them.

Notes to editors: