Navigating HR Challenges in the Offshore Wind Industry

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As the offshore wind industry continues to expand across Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region, the need for strategic human resource planning and development is becoming more crucial than ever.

World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO), the world's leading business platform for this sector, organised an online workshop last week to delve into the industry’s manpower-related challenges and opportunities.

Titled "What is it like to work in offshore wind?", the 2-hour workshop hosted by David Chiang, WFO’s Co-Head Asia Pacific, featured valuable insights from HR practitioners as well as business leaders in the industry.

DecodeHR’s Managing Director, Evelyn Chow, opened the session by emphasising the critical role of strategic workforce planning in ensuring that an organisation stays competitive now and in the future.

Offshore wind projects often require specialised skills that may not be readily available locally. To bridge this gap, she recommended that companies adopt a global recruitment strategy to attract top talent from around the world, offering competitive packages and relocation support when needed.

Evelyn also underscored the importance of contingency plans and proactive risk management. She highlighted the value of talent segmentation, explaining how it is crucial for managing and developing a diverse workforce.

Carl Blundon, APAC Managing Director at Taylor Hopkinson, touched on the wide range of career opportunities within the offshore wind industry and offered insights on how aspiring candidates can break into this rapidly expanding sector of renewable energy.

Providing valuable perspectives from an employer’s standpoint, Linda Chiang, Senior HR Manager of EDF Renouvelables, shared more about the talent needs of this emerging industry and the need for local expertise.

Following the presentations by the three guest speakers was a lively panel discussion, adeptly moderated by David of WFO.

Ethan Wang, Chief Operating Officer of IOG, Will Ting, Business Developer of TWD, and Michael Li, Operations Manager, Taiwan International Windpower Training Cooperation, spoke candidly about their experiences as industry leaders and provided valuable insights for those considering a career in this dynamic field.

At the end of the day, both industry professionals and aspiring talent need to be well-prepared. Organisations must adapt their HR practices and plan strategically to thrive in this ever-changing landscape.

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