Are you considering a career in the wind industry? Do you wonder what life as a wind turbine technician would be like? A recent study by the Offshore Wind Industry Council estimates that by 2030, the industry will employ over 97,000 people in the UK (61,000 direct jobs and 36,000 indirect), up from 31,000 currently. With the wind industry needing to attract so many new workers in the next few years, we thought it would be helpful to put together a list of the top 5 things you need to know about the wind industry, if you are considering it as a career.

1. YOU NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH HEIGHTS

Much of the work involved with the wind industry is done at the top of wind turbines.

Tasks you would be expected to undertake can range from a repair or some routine maintenance, to potentially carrying out life saving first aid.

The hub on a standard land based turbine is now about 94m tall, with each blade measuring 50m, so while it can be exciting, you have to be comfortable with heights!

2. YOU NEED TO ENJOY TRAVELLING

Chances are, you’re not going to be working on the same wind farm all the time, so you’ll likely be sent to various sites across the country, and even abroad.

While this is a great way to see different places, countries and cultures, the job could see you working on a rotation, meaning you are away from home for weeks at a time.

3. YOU NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE WORKING IN REMOTE LOCATIONS

There’s a reason you don’t see wind farms in the middle of cities.

Most wind farms are in remote or isolated rural locations, and many are based offshore. When you’re away working, you will be part of a small team that aren’t just your colleagues, but also your roommates, and travel mates.

This can make for great camaraderie, but they might be the only people you interact with on location which some can find challenging.

4. BE AWARE IT'S A SEASONAL INDUSTRY

Much of the work of a wind tech is seasonal.

Be prepared to put in long hours during the summer months, when wind speeds are favourable for repairs and inspections to be carried out.

Work can’t be undertaken during periods of bad weather, meaning you’ll have to wait for it to pass.

This often means that you will end up taking holidays and having downtime in the winter.

5. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

An extremely exciting and rewarding industry, a career in wind can provide a huge amount of opportunities.

If you have a good work ethic, show enthusiasm and a positive attitude, there are m

any ways to progress your career.

You will need to renew your GWO certificates every two years, and you also have the opportunity to take on more technical training when you’re ready.

Companies are always on the lookout for reliable, loyal workers so work is always there for those who want it!

At Safer at Work, our goal is to provide people with the right training to carry out their jobs safely.

If you want to find out more about how to be trained to work on wind turbines, you can contact us here.