How to start a career in renewable energy

09 Apr 2025

Knowing how to start a career in renewable energy in the UK is similar to any other industry: get the qualifications, learn the skills and find a role that's right for you.

But there are reasons why a UK renewable energy career is a stand-out choice. Since 2018, the number of full-time jobs in the UK's Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE) has risen by around 50%, according to figures from the ONS and Local Government Association.

This is predicted to grow by another 150% by the end of the decade, reaching nearly 700,000 jobs. Another 70% on top of that could take the UK renewable power workforce to nearly 1.2 million people by 2050.

A very varied career path

A career path in renewable energy in the UK opens up a lot of opportunities for vertical promotion and horizontal shifts into new disciplines.

From jobs in research and development, mechanical and electrical engineering, through to supporting roles in sales and finance, HR and middle management, not to mention the substantial civil engineering works required on new-build renewable infrastructure, the list goes on and on.

Yet any career path starts with the first step. With that in mind, let's dive into how to start a career in renewable energy in the UK, and let's land you the job of your dreams.

Knowing where to specialise

Choosing a specialism is a good way to enter any new industry. It can give you clarity about the types of roles you are looking for, and help you to prepare more specific answers to common interview questions you are likely to be asked.

That's not to say that you can't still consider roles in other areas of the industry. But if you're leaning towards a particular segment, it makes sense to use that as your guide.

1. Skills and qualifications

Obviously if you have a specific qualification, such as a degree in electrical engineering, that's going to have a big influence on the types of roles you qualify for.

We'll look in more detail below about how to know what roles are available to you, but for many people seeking entry-level positions, academic background will play a big part.

2. Renewable energy types

If you have an interest in a particular type of renewable energy, you can pursue that, and you should definitely let your recruitment consultant know if you have specific experience or a passion for one technology.

Think about where you're likely to be working. The four main renewable energy types in the UK are wind, solar, hydroelectric and biomass generation. Hydro and wind are more likely to include offshore work, whereas biomass and solar will most likely keep you on dry land.

Knowing the roles available to you

As we've mentioned above, there is a wide variety of roles available in the UK renewable energy sector, from clerical and office jobs, right through to maintaining the mammoth infrastructure that enables large-scale electricity generation.

You might already have a good idea of the roles that are most suitable for you - and the roles that you are most interested in.

In a perfect world, there should be plenty of overlap between interest and suitability. Speak to your recruitment consultant, as they'll know what hiring managers are looking for and may be able to point you towards specific experience or accreditations to bolster your application.

Gaining experience

You'll gain experience naturally over time, especially in the early years of your new career when every incident and victory adds so much value to your renewable energy CV.

Take note of those incidents as they occur. Write down any numbers you can, whether that's outperforming your expected productivity, avoiding some sort of downtime or business interruption, or a direct impact you had on revenues. These specifics should be part of your CV for future applications.

1. Early experience

We all know how hard it is to get your first experience in a new career, yet it's something that every employer is looking for. Vocational learning is one option, and an apprenticeship will give you direct hands-on experience in addition to an academic component.

Look for work experience opportunities, including paid and unpaid internships. If there are relevant local businesses, reach out and ask if you can shadow employees in certain roles.

Get contact details from anyone you can and add them all on LinkedIn - you never know when your professional network will hand you a dream job opportunity.

2. Continuing professional development (CPD)

Continuing professional development, or CPD, is about steadily increasing your skill level over time. You can do this through ongoing education, role-specific accreditation, certification and licences, and/or by asking your employer to give you workplace training.

All of these are so important for future job applications. In 5-10 years' time if your most relevant qualification is still your university degree, interviewers are likely to wonder why you haven't picked up any certificates along the way.

Knowing which skills are needed

Getting the right skills - whether that's via internships and apprenticeships, university or vocational college, or job-specific training and certification - is a crucial part of knowing how to start a career in renewable energy in the UK.

There's actually a mix of industry-specific and more general skills that will help get you a foot in the door. Here's just a few examples to help you spot what makes you stand out.

1. Essential skills

Any job will require certain essential skills. These aren't necessarily gained through educational qualifications, but in some cases you may need to pass an industry certification scheme before you can work in certain roles.

Certification means more when it comes from a respected industry body. The Global Wind Organisation and the Renewable Energy Institute are two of the main places to get certified to work in renewable energy in the UK.

2. Transferable skills

'Soft skills' are things like effective leadership, supportive teamwork and collaboration, and clear communication with colleagues, clients and stakeholders.

It's often hard to evidence these at the start of your career path, as you'll have limited work experience on your CV. But they can be a big differentiator between two applicants of similar educational backgrounds.

When including transferable skills on your CV, try to be specific. Give examples of when you developed each skill, or when it helped you overcome a workplace challenge. They don't have to be renewables-specific examples - that's why they're called 'transferable' skills.

3. Technical skills

Technical skills can be make-or-break for entering skilled roles in renewable energy. They can also take several years to acquire through academic, vocational and workplace training routes.

Research the roles you're interested in. Read job advertisements. Ask your recruitment consultant. Reach out to people already employed in the sector via social media.

Even if you don't currently have the required technical skills (e.g. a background in electrical engineering) you might be able to get an entry-level role in an adjacent discipline, which offers on-the-job training to gain the certification you need for the future.

Are you transferring to a career in renewables?

Not everyone entering a career in UK renewables is a university leaver. People can (and do) come to this industry later in life, especially due to the pace at which the UK's renewable energy infrastructure is expanding.

You'll have a natural advantage if you have soft skills from previous roles to add to your CV, along with evidence of your reliability and enthusiasm as a worker.

As always, it's about ensuring your best attributes make it to the eyes of the interviewer, while showing that you have the essential skills and knowledge needed for the role.

Whether you're a skilled worker looking to transfer into the sector, or you're a first-time jobseeker who wants to know more about how to start a career in renewable energy in the UK, contact First Recruitment Group today and our consultants will be happy to help.