SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WALES, Jo Stevens MP, was in Pembrokeshire today to confirm that the county will be part of a pilot project for green energy. Speaking to The Pembrokeshire Herald, she said: “I welcome the skills pilot in Pembrokeshire, calling it a crucial step in securing a workforce for clean energy expansion in the Celtic Sea.” Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans added: “This initiative, led by the Welsh Government, will unlock vast opportunities for green jobs and energy security.”

Thousands of workers will benefit from government-backed training as part of a major skills investment to prepare the UK for a clean energy future by 2030. Key regions, including Aberdeen, Cheshire, Lincolnshire, and Pembrokeshire, have been identified for growth in offshore wind, nuclear, and solar industries under the government’s Plan for Change.

The initiative will provide funding for local training centres, courses, and career advisors, equipping workers with skills in welding, electrical engineering, and construction. The government has also launched a long-awaited ‘skills passport’ to help oil and gas workers transition into renewable energy jobs, particularly offshore wind. Developed in collaboration with industry and the Scottish Government, the online tool will guide workers into roles such as construction and maintenance.

Funding to drive economic transformation

The government has allocated initial funding to Cheshire West and Chester, North and North East Lincolnshire, and Pembrokeshire, with around £1 million earmarked for each area. Aberdeen, which has already completed extensive skills mapping, will be considered for further funding later this year.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Our Plan for Change is about more than clean power; it’s about reindustrialising Britain with well-paid, union jobs in industrial communities. We are ensuring that British workers seize the opportunities clean power brings.”

Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin highlighted Scotland’s commitment, stating: “It is vital that we support oil and gas workers in transitioning to sustainable jobs. The Energy Skills Passport ensures their expertise is recognised and applied in our fair and managed transition to net zero.”

Building a skilled workforce

Research by Offshore Energies UK shows that 90% of oil and gas workers possess skills relevant to the clean energy transition. From January 22, workers can use the skills passport to access four career pathways, with further expansion planned over the next year.

The government has also confirmed contracts for the UK’s first carbon capture project in Teesside, reinforcing its commitment to transforming industrial heartlands. Employers will receive a handbook outlining available support for workforce growth and upskilling.

Industry and government backing

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens welcomed the skills pilot in Pembrokeshire, calling it a crucial step in securing a workforce for clean energy expansion in the Celtic Sea. Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans added: “This initiative, led by the Welsh Government, will unlock vast opportunities for green jobs and energy security.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council leader Cllr Louise Gittins said the initiative would play a “crucial role” in transitioning workers to clean energy sectors. Midlands Net Zero Hub head Jack Hayhoe stressed that strategic skills investment could unlock £15 billion of economic growth in the next five years.

A roadmap to net zero

The Energy Secretary is convening a roundtable with industry, education, and trade union leaders to ensure the UK workforce is prepared for the clean energy transition. The regional skills funding comes from the Office for Clean Energy Skills Fund, with key partnerships supporting skills mapping and training development.

The Plan for Change aims to unlock £40 billion of annual investment, securing thousands of jobs and positioning Britain as a global leader in clean energy.

RWE has launched its Hydrogen Education Programme, an initiative aimed at educating schoolchildren about hydrogen’s crucial role in achieving net zero and decarbonising industries.

Developed in partnership with Generation C, the programme offers interactive, curriculum-based activities that connect classroom learning to real-world applications. Students of all ages will explore hydrogen’s properties, its production, and its growing role in industries driving the clean energy transition.

Henry Tudor High School in Pembroke has already piloted the programme with secondary school students, while Golden Grove Primary School is set to begin this week. The initiative will demonstrate how hydrogen, as a clean energy source, is integral to reducing emissions in transport, manufacturing, and energy sectors.

Engaging young minds

The programme features real-world case studies highlighting RWE’s hydrogen projects and includes group challenges designed to encourage critical thinking about global climate issues.

Golden Grove Primary School headteacher, Mr A Williams, welcomed the initiative, stating: “As head of a large primary school in Pembrokeshire, which is at the forefront of green energy growth, it is imperative that we build meaningful relationships with companies like RWE. The initial lesson captivated our learners, who now fully understand the importance of green energy and the new hydrogen plant. The flexibility of the New Welsh Curriculum allows us to tailor learning to our community’s needs—building an electrolyser to produce hydrogen is just the beginning of a journey that could lead to future opportunities in collaboration with businesses.”

Williams also highlighted the programme’s potential to shape future career paths, saying: “This project could provide highly skilled jobs in our county, and we need our learners to be at the forefront of that development.”

Building a sustainable future

Louise McDonnell, RWE’s hydrogen development manager, attended the event and emphasised the programme’s impact: “Our Hydrogen Education Programme equips young people with the knowledge and inspiration to make a difference. Hydrogen is a game-changer in the fight against climate change, and through this initiative, we’re helping students see the opportunities in clean energy. Education is key to building the skills and passion needed to achieve net zero and safeguard our planet.”

RWE’s Hydrogen Education Programme is more than just an awareness initiative—it aims to inspire careers in clean energy. By sparking curiosity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), the programme encourages students to explore future roles in the expanding hydrogen economy and renewable energy sector.

Hydrogen’s role in decarbonisation

RWE recently secured planning permission for the RWE Pembroke Green Hydrogen Project, a 100MWe electrolysis plant capable of producing approximately two metric tonnes of green hydrogen per hour. By replacing fossil fuels, the plant is expected to cut local CO2 emissions by about 93,000 tonnes annually, the equivalent of removing 18,600 cars from the road.

As the UK’s largest power producer and a leading renewable generator, RWE continues to develop hydrogen opportunities nationwide to support industrial decarbonisation and drive the transition to a cleaner energy future.

A PILOT initiative designed to help survivors of domestic abuse remain safely in their homes and reduce the risk of homelessness, has seen 76 Carmarthenshire residents protected in just six months.

The My Safe Place project, which is a partnership between Dyfed-Powys Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Carmarthenshire County Council, addresses significant gaps in support services, particularly for people living in their own or privately rented homes, who often can’t afford to implement necessary security measures.

Through providing interventions such as locks, alarms, fencing and other safety features, the program enables domestic abuse survivors to deter perpetrators and avoid the emotional and financial upheaval of relocating.

Constable Stephen Morris, Dyfed-Powys Police’s Designing Out Crime Officer, said: “If a domestic abuse survivor is living in privately owned or privately rented accommodation, very often they can not afford to carry out safeguarding recommendations.

“We identified this gap through speaking to and visiting domestic abuse victims and were able to secure funding to carry out security work and help people who were fleeing domestic abuse to stay in their own homes – preventing them becoming homeless.”

The initiative aligns closely with strategic priorities for housing and domestic abuse prevention, placing a strong emphasis on early intervention to prevent homelessness.

Recent evaluation found the majority of domestic abuse survivors felt safer in their homes after receiving support through My Safe Place, while an equally high percentage recommended the service as an alternative to moving.

“It is often all too easy to send people into refuge, but why should they have to? They are a victim of crime. Their children may go to school locally, they may have family living nearby or local support networks, so why should they have to leave? “In the long term, it is often not what they want. My job is to ensure extra security measures are in place so that the police can reach victims before the perpetrators.” PC Morris continued.

“The council housing team have also had training, so if one brave person declares themselves homeless due to domestic abuse, they can refer them directly to the police to give us the opportunity to intervene and support the victim, which is something that may not have happened previously.

“I’m pleased we have been able to able to utilise funds to help safeguard some of the most vulnerable victims from significant serious harm and plug this gap in provision.”

From April to October 2024, 76 people were supported by the scheme, with 20 interventions to those people living in properties they owned and 17 interventions to those living in private rented accommodation. 26 interventions were made to those living in local authority housing, four to people living in housing association and nine in Registered Social Landlord (RSL) properties.

Through consultation with Mid and West Wales Survivor’s Panel, it revealed victims face significant challenges in accessing home security measures while experiencing domestic abuse.

This gap in support was identified and addressed through funding provided by the OPCC and Carmarthenshire County Council, with delivery facilitated by the Safer Streets initiative. The Safer Streets mission is funded by the Home Office and aims to reduce serious harm and increase public confidence in policing and in the criminal justice system.

Joanne Edwards, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Commissioning and Contracting Manager, said: “As a pilot program, it underscores a firm commitment to easing the strain on homelessness and refuge services, while empowering victims to maintain stability for themselves and their families. Its core objectives include enhancing victims’ safety, reducing the risks posed by perpetrators, and providing a practical alternative to displacement.

“In its pilot phase, the project has demonstrated measurable success and strong stakeholder support. Regular reviews and feedback mechanisms are in place to maintain and enhance its effectiveness. As My Safe Place continues to grow, it holds the potential to serve as a model for future interventions aimed at supporting victims of domestic abuse and preventing homelessness.”

The scheme is another way Dyfed-Powys Police is demonstrating its commitment to helping eliminate domestic abuse.

PC Morris added: “I’m confident that should this scheme continue, it will successfully reduce the number of people declaring themselves as homeless to the council as a result of domestic abuse.”

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn hoped the pilot scheme would help to empower survivors to stay in their own homes.

He said: “I am proud to support and partner on this scheme, which I hope will make a real difference to the lives of domestic abuse survivors. By addressing gaps in support and providing practical security measures, we want to empower survivors to feel safer in their own homes and reduce the risk of homelessness.

“Everyone deserves to feel secure and supported, and I believe this scheme has the potential to bring about lasting, positive change for those who need it most.”

If you need to report domestic abuse, stalking or harassment, you can contact Dyfed-Powys Police in the following ways:

• Report online: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline
• Email: [email protected]
• Call: 101
• If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908

In an emergency, always call 999.

*If you feel you need support in contacting police, there are organisations that can help you.

Click here to find them, or search online for Live Fear Free, Women’s Aid or the National Stalking Helpline – all of which have free helplines available.