A new energy age for a secure, prosperous Britain
3 min read
The Modern Industrial Strategy sets out commitments to support innovation, skills, infrastructure and clean growth. Bill Esterson, Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, emphasises that strengthening the UK’s supply chains and workforce is essential to building the energy system of the future
The government’s Modern Industrial Strategy marks a decisive shift towards a future where government and business work in partnership to shape the economy. At its centre lies a simple truth: energy and industry are inseparable.
A secure energy supply underpins investment, productivity and competitiveness across manufacturing, digital and clean-tech sectors. The industrial revolution built our prosperity on fossil fuels, but it left us exposed to price shocks and geopolitical risk. Britain’s industrial future depends on secure, affordable energy.
Renewables have now overtaken coal as the largest source of electricity worldwide. In the UK, wind power is displacing expensive gas, lowering prices and shielding families and businesses from fossil fuel volatility. KPMG reports that 61 per cent of CEOs believe they’re on track to meet 2030 net-zero goals, up from 51 per cent last year.1 These are global industry leaders – not climate campaigners – investing in the direction of travel.
Clean power is now the route to secure power. By generating more energy from British wind, solar and nuclear – backed by large-scale storage – we can cut bills, strengthen our balance of payments, and ensure that no international crisis can turn off the lights. The task is to build an energy system designed for this century, not the last.
This is not an abstract environmental cause but a national industrial project, already creating jobs: welders and engineers in the North East; offshore technicians in Grimsby; and innovators in the Midlands designing next-generation batteries and hydrogen systems. Britain’s oil and gas expertise must be repurposed for renewables, carbon capture and advanced nuclear. Our energy workforce must evolve, not disappear.
The jobs on offer cannot be distant promises; they must be real careers that support families. Existing skills must be valued, not lost. The same people who powered Britain’s past must now help shape its future. The government’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan must deliver for workers, families and communities, as well as for the industries developing in the transition away from fossil fuels.
To capture the benefits of this global shift, Britain must address two strategic challenges: supply chains and skills. We still lag behind competitors locking in contracts for critical materials and components. The new UK-Greenland critical minerals deal is a step forward, but evidence to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee shows domestic capacity remains insufficient to meet targets.
Britain’s clean energy future depends on the skills of its people. The Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy, alongside Skills England, new Technical Excellence Colleges and a reformed Growth and Skills Levy, suggest the Labour government is linking its industrial strategy with reform and investment in education and training. With a target of two-thirds of young people accessing higher-level learning, “gold standard” apprenticeships and renewed support for colleges and maintenance grants, the government is building a workforce ready for clean growth.
The economics are compelling. Global fossil-fuel subsidies reached $7tn in 2022 – seven per cent of world GDP – while the cost of climate-related damage to the UK is projected to triple by 2050. Investing now in domestic low-carbon technologies means stable prices, secure supply and long-term savings. Once built, wind, solar and nuclear come with no fuel costs and provide lasting price stability. This is the route to permanent economic advantage: British industries powered by British energy, built by British workers.
Britain led the first industrial revolution. We can lead again – showing the world that clean, affordable, secure energy is not only possible, but the foundation of national prosperity and renewal.
Bill Esterson is Labour MP for Sefton Central
Reference
- KPMG; KPMG 2025 Global CEO Outlook
