A Fair and Just Transition
A planned and orderly transition to net zero presents many opportunities for workers, communities, and consumers, including:
- creating good green jobs;
- investment in rural communities;
- the development of new supply chains and local businesses;
- greater energy security;
- and less volatile bills.
At the same time, a disorderly transition to net zero could impact public support for decarbonisation, risk causing lasting social and economic harms.
A ‘just transition’ is the fairest way of ensuring that the benefits of climate action are shared widely, whilst preventing an unfair burden of the costs on those least able to afford it.
In November 2020, SSE plc became the first company in the world to publish a Just Transition Strategy.
The Strategy outlines 20 principles to promote a fair and just transition for workers, consumers and communities when transitioning ‘in’ to a net zero world, while at the same time transitioning ‘out’ of high-carbon activities.
In 2024, SSE plc revisited those principles to ensure they remained appropriate and relevant.
The review found that the 20 principles remain relevant, with only minor amendments needed to the wording and further clarity added in the definitions which sit below them.
The renewed strategy has also identified a basket of 10 key performance indicators identified to monitor progress.
These indicators are also mirrored in our SSE Renewables goals.
Achieving a Just Transition at SSE Renewables
Championing a fair and just transition is a key pillar of our wider business strategy.
As we transition into a net zero world, we have a responsibility to ensure that the green jobs we generate are good jobs, underpinned by decent and fair work, which is safe and inclusive.
We also need to make sure we continue to be a responsible developer of renewable technologies. This includes engaging and sharing value with our communities and suppliers, while ensuring the supply chains underpinning our assets do not exacerbate human rights or environmental risks.
During 2023/24, we:
- contributed £2bn to the UK and Irish economies;
- supported over 16,000 jobs (the majority being in the supply chain);
- and invested over £10m into our communities.
We also marked 10 years of Living Wage accreditation and took targeted action towards achieving our inclusion and diversity targets and the implementation of our Human Rights Action Plan.
You can learn more about the ways in which we are ensuring a Just Transition at SSE Renewables by clicking on the links below:
Transitioning from high-carbon roles
Achieving our net zero targets and the shift away from high-carbon industries will involve harnessing the transferability of existing skills sets and competences in the energy sector.
In SSE Renewables, 38% of our workforce has transitioned from high-carbon industries and perform crucial roles across the business.
The following four testimonials showcase the range of opportunities available in SSER and the transferability of skill-sets developed in high-carbon sectors:
Natasha Leask
General Manager, Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm
Prior to SSE, I worked for an integrated oil and gas company for 11 years.
Joining SSE Renewables felt like an obvious choice – I wanted to transition and support the development of renewable energy projects and I wanted to work for a company that had tangible and exciting opportunities to do that.
18 months later I have responsibility for the safe and efficient operations of the largest offshore wind farm in Scotland - it doesn’t get much more exciting than that!
Helene Soubies
Environmental Offshore Manager
The first half of my career was focused on oil and gas activities, both internationally and in the UK, writing environmental impact assessments and obtaining permits and consents for activities to start.
My focus shifted towards energy transition, focusing still on oil and gas but also broadening my skills in offshore renewables, carbon capture and hydrogen.
I now work as the offshore environment team manager within our Consents team at SSE Renewables. I support my team in ensuring all of SSE Renewables offshore projects are embedding environmental compliance from the seabed bid stage, to construction, operations and all the way to decommissioning.
Grant Garden
Control Room Manager, Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm
Prior to working at Seagreen I worked in the oil and gas industry for over a decade, working on offshore rigs within the production room.
This involved the safe and efficient running of the platform, maximising production whilst always operating the site as safely as possible; like we do at Seagreen.
Having moved over to renewables I was surprised how many transferable skills there have been, and how people from other industries can share their experience and pass on knowledge from other ways of working, which has hopefully added some value.
My main advice would be to go for it!
Kirsty Murray
Bid Manager
Before joining SSE Renewables, I was a Proposals Manager for a global engineering and consulting business.
I was responsible for managing a wide range of bids - everything from large-scale EPC contracts with the world’s leading oil & gas companies on their North Sea assets to small FEED studies for refineries and chemical plants. I gained some exposure to Renewables where my focus began to shift more towards hydrogen, circular economy and waste-to-energy projects as the scope of my business unit expanded.
I wanted to learn more about large scale renewables projects and offshore wind had always fascinated me so when the opportunity arose to join SSE Renewables’ bid team it was a no brainer!
My role now involves securing SSE Renewables’ future offshore wind projects to help us meet our ambitious growth targets - I love the dynamic pace of this industry and working with so many diverse teams across the business.