June 2023
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This conference focused on priorities for growing the green skills economy in the UK.
Taking place against the backdrop of the net zero transition, delegates assessed key opportunities and barriers to meeting current and future workforce needs.
With the Government committed to creating two million green jobs across the UK by 2030, and the recent publication of the Net Zero Review by former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore, the conference was a timely opportunity to consider what is needed to address immediate and long-term primary skills shortages across areas including:
- low carbon heating
- sustainable aviation
- renewable energy supply chains
- environmental land management
Delegates considered what is needed from government, and educational training and industry stakeholders to help businesses attract new talent, retrain the existing workforce, and develop new curricula and training pathways. They will also focus on opportunities for, and barriers to funding, with local authorities calling for a national framework for green jobs.
Overall, the agenda included discussion on:
- current labour workforce priorities: assessing immediate skills gaps - long-term plans to grow the green skills economy - fulfilling future job requirements
- training and upskilling:
- developing education and vocational training providers to effectively equip the future workforce
- opportunities and challenges involved in retraining workers across energy intensive sectors - potential entry into new lines of work
- improving access to training opportunities - addressing inequalities
- funding: attracting public and private finance - investing in services to help reduce existing skills gaps - preparing for future workforce needs
- policy: priorities reforming the skills system - growing the UK green skills economy - working towards long-term net zero and levelling up ambitions
We are pleased to have been able to include a keynote session with Amy Jenkins, Deputy Director, Net Zero Investment and Workforce, Net Zero Strategy Directorate, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the CCC; CMA; CCS; DAERA, NI; Defra; DBT; Department for the Economy, NI; DfE; DESNZ; DLUHC; DfT; DWP; HM Treasury; HSE; MCA; NSO; OBR; ONS; Ofsted; VOA; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
