Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of training times required to achieve basic certification to work in the offshore (a) oil and gas and (b) wind sector of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).

The North Sea Transition Deal underpins the Government’s partnership with the offshore oil and gas sector, to achieve a managed energy transition which leaves no-one behind. The sector, through its skills body OPITO, is developing an integrated People and Skills Plan to support mutual recognition of workforce skills and competencies across energy sectors, which is due to be published in the coming months.

The Offshore Wind Sector Deal also includes actions to develop an Offshore Energy Passport to accredit offshore workers and facilitate job-mobility between offshore renewable and extractive industries; the Offshore Wind Industry Council produces a quarterly People and Skills Bulletin to provide an update on activities.

Specific training requirements fall within the remit of skills standards and training certifying bodies.

The Energy Skills Alliance (ESA) is chaired by OPITO, with information on the ESA and its membership published on the OPITO website.