Targeted measures to support workers in climate-damaging industries

Scotland has many people working in the oil and gas industry, whose specialist knowledge and expertise can be of great value to emerging alternative energy industries.

The offshore skills passport is a step in the right direction for those already wishing to transfer from oil and gas to renewables.

Additionally there should be support for those needing to take additional training to change industries, both in the form of advice allowing them to understand what their options are and what pathways they need to follow, and in the form of targeted grants or loans for those unable to pay to retrain.

Additional support also needs to be provided to those working in the supply chain: companies delivering fuel for oil-fired heating systems, coal delivery, etc. This may include support for things like trading in vehicle used for delivering gas.

All support measures should be developed in consultation with those working in these industries, to establish what they need.

The oil and gas industry in particular employs many people in certain areas of Scotland. In order to provide a just transition, and to increase support for the move away from gas and oil, those workers need to know they will not be left without a livelihood, with a large drop in standard or living, or with expensive bills for retraining.