Abstract
The UK Government has made offshore wind (OWF) a core part of its future energy strategy. Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) perform a statutory role in the consenting process of OWF and need to grow their workforce to match the increased demand from intensified OWF development activity. The University of Hull were contracted to identify the range of job roles and skills needed to deliver environmental advice in the SNCBs and MMO, the key academic institutions active in marine environmental sciences, and the scope and options for boosting environmental content relevant to the OWF sector with a view to enhancing future recruitment into the respective organisations. Skills relevant to SNCBs’ statutory functions specific to OWF include an understanding of the effects of different OWF technologies on the marine environment, environmental assessment reporting techniques, and marine environmental regulations. The content of courses applicable to the needs of SNCBs and MMO, provided by a selection of the leading academic institutions, was reviewed to identify current provision and scope opportunities for enhancement.