Tees Components boss joins Government’s Green Jobs Taskforce to support low carbon revolution

The boss of a heavy engineering firm has been appointed to a Government body focused on driving low carbon development across the country.

Sharon Lane, managing director at Tees Components, is part of the Green Jobs Taskforce, which Whitehall says will support moves to deliver two million jobs by 2030.

Sharon will represent both the region and the Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership on the taskforce, which includes representatives from companies such as National Grid, Tata Steel, BP Ørsted and Nissan.

It also features organisations including the TUC, ECITB and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature.

Focused on setting the direction for the job market as the UK transitions to a high-skill, low carbon economy, the venture forms part of the Government’s plans to build back greener and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Chaired by Business and Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng and Apprenticeship and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan, it will focus on the immediate and long-term challenges of delivering skilled workers for the transition to net zero.

These include ensuring the country has the skills for industries such as offshore wind and hydrogen, as well as supporting workers in the oil and gas sector and helping people retrain in new green technologies.

Speaking of her appointment, Sharon, whose company is based in North Skelton, near Saltburn, east Cleveland, said: “I am very honoured to join the taskforce and be representing the Tees Valley in this vital challenge to create a sustainable, skilled workforce.

“The Tees Valley is ideally positioned to play an integral role in the green revolution, building on our exceptional industrial heritage and our leading role in making the transition to renewable energy resources.

“The exciting developments that will come from the Teesworks project, the plans for a new waste-to-energy plant at PD Ports facility on the River Tees, the opportunities presented by hydrogen technologies and, of course, our world-recognised role in the offshore wind industry will all be essential parts of the drive for more green jobs.

“I am keen to help the Government understand what businesses in our region need to help develop their skilled workforces and work with employers across the Tees Valley to gain an insight into their opportunities and challenges to support the creation of green jobs.”

Kwasi Kwarteng added: “This Government has promised to do all it can to provide good quality, secure work as we build back better and greener from coronavirus.

“The Green Jobs Taskforce will oversee the UK taking strides towards long-term economic prosperity, as well as transitioning to the new low carbon green industries of the future.”