Environment
Transport
Invasive Species
Energy
Indigenous, Minority and Lesser-Used Languages
Creative Industries
Social Inclusion
Planning and Places
Housing
Early Years
Drugs and Alcohol
Overview
The British-Irish Council’s (BIC) eight Member Administrations have ambitious decarbonisation targets and are focussed in ensuring that the transition away from fossil fuels is just. In recent years, jobs, skills and supply chains have been at the centre of BIC meetings, including the 41st and 42nd BIC Summits in the Isle of Man and Scotland.
Lead Administrations
The work sector is jointly chaired by the UK and Scottish Governments.
It was originally established in 2009 with two subgroups, one looking at marine energy and the other on grid infrastructure. The groups were formally merged in 2015.
Current Focus
In February 2026, at a Ministerial meeting hosted by the UK Government in London, ministers agreed a programme of work focussing on:
- Public Acceptance
- Just Transition
- Supply Chains and Skills
- Peer Reviews
Over the next few years, the group will explore these topics by engaging with those working at the forefront of new technologies, examining how administrations can secure community buy-in, analysing critical supply chains and identifying strategies to upskill the workforce.
