Problem

The closure of coal power plants is essential to achieving net-zero targets, but without adequate planning, such transitions can lead to widespread job losses, skills mismatches in new green industries, and economic hardship for local workers, communities, and supporting businesses. In the UK, coal once powered much of the industrial economy, but by 2024, only one coal-fired plant remained: Ratcliffe-on-Soar. Its closure posed risks for its workforce, many of whom had long careers in the sector, as well as for the communities that depended on the plant’s operations. Without strong worker protections, the transition risked becoming a story of loss rather than opportunity.

Response

The closure of Ratcliffe Power Station in 2024 marked the end of coal-fired electricity generation in the UK. But unlike many plant closures worldwide, this one became a positive case study in just transitions. Led by a collaborative approach between the energy company Unipert and the trade unions GMB, Prospect & Unite the Union, the joint plans and negotiations resulted in a credible transition plan for the entire workforce of 154 employees.

Rather than waiting for disruption, the plan included early consultation, identifying new job opportunities within other Unipert ventures and also across the company's value-chain partners, such as nearby emerging energy sectors like hydrogen, battery storage, and waste-to-energy. The company sought to ensure that all workers received tailored support, whether through redeployment, retraining, or retirement, resulting in no compulsory redundancies, and also reportedly invested in the green infrastructure to help revitalise the region. The Ratcliffe demonstrates how planned transitions can be both socially responsible and an economic opportunity for companies.

Find out more: TUC