According to a new report from OVO energy, just 7 per cent of people state they are receiving dedicated green skills development, and only 30 per cent have heard of green skills.
Addressing the skills gap is an essential step on the road to net zero, with the technologies and job roles needed to deliver sustainable growth lacking in certain industries. According to OVO’s survey, 75 per cent of those aged 25-34 say they “wish they’d been given more information about green skills when in education,” and 61 per cent of people surveyed agreed that developing green skills would make them more appealing to future employers.
The next generation of workers are pursuing green skills and qualifications in a bid to improve their employability and future-proof their careers. On the other end of the spectrum, organisations could appeal to talent in a competitive pool by championing green skills and education.
Today’s workers want to be employed by organisations with strong sustainability credentials and clear investment in environmental training,” explains Catriona Watson, Net Zero Training Manager at Green Economy. “Implementing dedicated green skills strategies in your organisation has major benefits. It’ll prepare your organisation for net zero with a dedicated, able, and engaged workforce, help you get you ahead of government legislation, break into new markets and get ahead of the curve. You’ll also appeal to future talent seeking new roles with environmentally conscious companies.”
According to the survey, one in five people have asked for green skills training at work. Despite a clear appetite for green skills and training among younger workers, only 7 per cent receiving dedicated training implies not enough organisations are receptive to the needs and ambitions of their staff, especially when it comes to environmental education.
“By rolling out dedicated green skills strategies and setting aside time for your teams to pursuit sustainability training, your organisation has an opportunity to get ahead of the competition by placing themselves in the 7 per cent committed to training their staff,” Catriona adds. “There are so many programmes available, including Journey To Net Zero and Carbon Literacy Training here at Green Economy, which are designed to equip learners with practical skills that can be used within your organisation to improve sustainability and work towards net zero. Why wait?”
The report delves further into the magnitude of the skills gap, highlighting a need for 362,000 workers by 2035 to decarbonise homes through energy efficiency measures. Across each green sector, including retrofit, renewable energy, and carbon consultancy, the presently available workforce is not sufficient to deliver the UK’s net zero ambitions.
Training your workforce to understand sustainability and key carbon concepts is an essential step on the road to net zero, and organisations with an engaged workforce are far more likely to deliver on environmental goals.
