The government needs to offer greater assistance to wind turbine manufacturers if they are to consider relocating jobs to the UK, according to Ben Cartland, an associate at green recruiter Acre Resources.

New analysis from the Carbon Trust shows that 250,000 jobs could be created by offshore wind alone, with the UK taking up to 45% of the global offshore wind market provided an investment of £600m is made.

Danish wind turbine firm Vestas shut down its Isle of Wight plant in April and Cartland told Recruiter that there is not enough incentive to set up in the UK currently with wind turbine manufacturers opting for Germany, the US and Japan.

Cartland recommends business incentives such as tax breaks, and the introduction of feed-in tariffs which obligate regional or national utilities to buy renewable energy from renewable sources.

Cartland adds that there have been plenty of opportunities for the UK to become a world leader in wind power and it has not happened as Germany in particular has stolen a march on the UK.

“The fact of the matter is the sector is moveable geographically. If the government can put in place incentives and they are there and they are rolled out, there is nothing to stop the move to the UK.

“Incentives would be tax breaks, and the introduction of feed-in tariffs which obligate regional or national utilities to buy renewable energy from
renewable sources.

“If you look at BP and Shell, they have moved their operations to the US because financially it is attractive to be based out there. Companies will move to where it makes sense to be commercially and quickly.”