The government has launched a consultation over proposals to link financial incentives for offshore wind companies to fair work standards and skills training for staff, ahead of a further round of clean industry bonuses (CIBs) being allocated.
Sarah Munro, employment law expert at Pinsent Masons, said: “The approach to linking government spending to higher employment standards and boosting trade union representation aligns the offshore wind sector with changes to procurement standards which are impacting infrastructure employers”.
The consultation, which runs until 6 October, looks to explore “persistent concerns” about workplace standards across parts of the offshore wind sector – including workforce diversity and social inclusion, and union access – with the potential to use the CIBs to push for high-quality jobs and workforce protection.
The bonuses were introduced in the seventh and most recent contracts for difference allocation round, with £544 million allocated as part of the process to improve sustainable supply chains.
A skills criterion is being included in the eighth allocation round aimed at incentivising employers to invest in a skills fund, or to support upskilling at project level – with the new social value requirements coming into effect as part of the government’s national procurement plan.
“Offshore wind employers may find that new procurement standards reflect the government’s ambition for their sector too,” said Munro.
“The shape of the future fair work charter may start to emerge fairly quickly as the government plans to convene widespread representation of all key interests this summer.”