Building the workforce of the future will be a fundamental challenge, but it also presents substantial opportunities. The net zero transition will require the delivery of green skills across education and the workforce at a considerable pace, so prioritising the right pathways will be crucial for urgent and effective implementation.
Recent developments have expanded conversations about delivering green skills, offering an opportunity to make rapid and evidence-led progress. Green Alliance’s recent report: ‘Green shoots: growing the green workforce of the future’ provides a crucial insight into how the UK can meet its green skills challenge and why action is needed. The report highlights the strong desire of young people to be part of the solution, the barriers they face, and the need for more accessible pathways into green jobs.
This online panel discussion, hosted in May 2024 by the IES and Green Alliance, brought together perspectives from professional bodies, NGOs, and research, looking at priorities for green skills, key challenges, and how to deliver the workforce of the future in practice.
Speakers included:
- Faustine Wheeler, primary author of Green Shoots and former Policy Advisor at Green Alliance
- Josh Oxby, Energy Advisor at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
- Ethny Childs, Communities & Partnerships Lead, Institution of Environmental Sciences
- Siobhan Silas, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Executive, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
- Sarah Ridgeon, Policy and Communities of Practice Officer, Society for the Environment
