A Green Future Squaring the circle Meeting the talent requirements of the Green Economy W at hile pondering


on my daughters’ choice of degree course recently,


it struck me how little


information is available for young people seeking a “green” career - whether in renewable energy or energy efficiency, environment and natural resource protection, climate change, sustainability or any of the wide range of new and emerging “green” career choices .


While professional skills training academies have been set up over the last few years providing training for roles in renewable energy in particular,


it seems that much


more could be done throughout the education system to illustrate the range of jobs and new career paths now available.


This needs to


start at secondary schools before GCSE subject choices are made and then continue throughout sixth form,


further


“the green economy arguably


requires more entrepreneurs than other sectors”


by people seeking career change - a second or even third career, with an ethical component –and often ethical means “green”. While our advice is usually to analyse transferable skills and core competencies, work on a voluntary basis in the desired field, and perhaps undertake further training, it remains the case that changing to a green career can be difficult, not least because many employers favour candidates from their industry. Could more be done to help these people?


education


colleges, universities and business schools. While the need for engineers and others with technical skills has been recognised, there is also a great need for specialists in areas such as


Can the current education system step up to the challenge of educating a whole generation to work in the emerging green industries - or is there a need for systemic change at a more fundamental level? Higher tuition fees are already starting to reduce the number of applicants for many degree courses - perhaps a good start would be a policy of reduced tuition fees (together with other incentives) for those who choose degree courses or undertake professional development or training which has been designed to promote sustainability in all its forms.


climate policy and regulation,


planning, marketing and marcomms, public relations, and consultancy – as well as for designers, architects, and a wide range of other professionals who can translate sustainability principles into mainstream products and services.


For young people seeking their first “green” role, the old chicken and egg scenario – “no job without work experience, but few opportunities to obtain work experience without a job” – can be even more challenging, given that many green industries are


56 entrepreneurcountry in their infancy and are still learning.


For experienced professionals, with the right generic skills sets, but who lack relevant industry experience, the unwillingness of employers (and recruiters) to think outside the box, is an additional issue. Employers in green growth industries often report skills shortages – either because the talent pipeline isn’t strong enough, or because their industry is undergoing rapid growth or transformation. As a company, we are often approached


From our perspective as a new business (albeit an experienced team) involved in the development of a new service (helping career changers move to a “green” career), we’ve experienced many of the pitfalls of entrepreneurship. As usual it is much easier to stick to the tried and trusted, but in my view, the growth of the green economy requires just as many, if not more, entrepreneurs than other sectors – we just need help to square the (many) circles.


By Philippa Corr, Director of


Sustainable Prospects, focused on helping the green economy grow.


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