The Green Skills Gap We Can’t Ignore

The Built Environment, Aviation and Transport, and Construction sectors are grappling with significant challenges to reduce carbon and achieve net zero. However, amidst these challenges lies a golden opportunity: the chance to build a robust green skills pipeline. The imperative not only addresses the pressing carbon related skills gap but also brings about opportunities to develop broader sustainable business leaders, driving enhanced social value; avenues that attract passionate and determined young talent eager to combat climate change and social issues head-on through purposeful work.

At COP28 and in upcoming climate and environmental conferences, there’s a deliberate push to prioritise the perspectives of younger generations – apparently, that’s not me anymore! Their ideas are steering the climate agenda toward a sustainable future. Targeted investments in the green economy are not only providing substantial career potential for a younger audience, but are also propelling our economy toward greater sustainability and resilience, with jobs that we haven’t even envisaged yet.

Building on this momentum alongside the ongoing operation and growth of our businesses, leaders can leverage social value as a powerful tool to provide opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds to acquire the skills needed for green careers. Social value, defined as the positive impact businesses have on society through economic, social, and environmental benefits, can take various forms.

Many of us have engaged with schools, offering work and shadowing experiences, apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities. At Wilson James we are expanding our social value programme to provide career mentors and social media content development competitions to simultaneously provide experience and showcase the diversity of green roles and wider social value creation through our business operations to a new and excited audience.

Using social value programmes to enhance access to green skills and job opportunities is a game-changer. It ensures that we’re cultivating a diverse workforce ready to take on the challenge of saving our planet. The urgent global need to upskill our future workforce with green skills necessitates massive opportunities for the built environment to invest in social value initiatives that guide younger individuals into fulfilling green careers.

The impact of sustainable careers goes beyond individual success; it generates significant human, financial, and social value that is impossible to ignore.  It also, in my (humble) opinion, diversifies and expands the conversation in business, driving greater ROI, colleague and client retention and therefore creates competitive advantage alongside a more fun and engaging working culture.

The good news is that the structures required to create social value already exist and can be adopted by organisations of all sizes, inspiring young minds worldwide. Closing the green skills gap through social value isn’t just about individual or industry benefits; it’s a profound contribution to societies at large and a powerful stance in our collective fight against climate change. Let’s harness the potential within our grasp and create a lasting impact on both the workforce and the world.