How can green skills make a difference in your career?
Developing and adapting to the changing environment is something we are all learning to do, step by step we are making a difference to our personal emissions at work and at home. Part of this development is green skills. These skills are a pivotal force in reshaping the way we work, paving the way for sustainable economies, and helping with the fight against climate change.
What Is a Green Skill?
These are the skills and knowledge that allow us to contribute to environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. These skills involve understanding and addressing environmental challenges, such as climate change and sustainable development, across different industries.
The World Economic Forum claims that more than 1.47 billion jobs globally depend on a stable climate, and that progressing innovation means that many jobs are yet to be invented.
Another important term to keep in mind are brown skills. These are skills you already have but with a little tweaking and development can unlock many doors in the climate conscious sector. For example, electric vehicles are a newer development that continues to grow, someone with knowledge in car engineering and mechanics could plan on upskilling to learn more about hybrid and electric engineering, allowing them to progress in their roles and contribute to the future of transportation. This concept shows the adaptability of skills, showing that with a little extra information, individuals can align their expertise with the need for climate conscious practices.
Durham’s Economic Development Strategy
Durham’s Economic Development Strategy is centred around a people-centric approach, the strategy is dedicated to supporting people in skill enhancement and career development. The strategy encourages and helps residents find the tools and knowledge to excel in businesses and workplaces. And green skills are at the top of the growth and development list as they contribute to a green and sustainable economy, helping businesses become more climate friendly and helping the county reach net zero by 2045.
Green Skills Equal Green Jobs
Green skills serve as the key that unlocks doors to green jobs, addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing world. The demand for employees with green expertise is growing, but technology is growing twice as fast, leading to a gap in the market. Green skills are becoming more desirable in the job market, meaning now is the best time to gain more knowledge.
The more technology grows, the more opportunities it opens. According to PWC In 2023 over 240 thousand green jobs were advertised, this makes up 2.3% of the total jobs market. , prioritising sustainable and climate friendly practices, are everywhere, and thanks to new developments; green jobs cover diverse sectors like renewable energy, construction, manufacturing, and agriculture. Technical skills like maintenance engineering, energy efficiency designing, and soft skills such as critical thinking and collaboration are all part of the skills market and are crucial for the transition to net zero.
The growth in green jobs is shown in the example of the wind energy industry. A study from Statista shows there was 1.4 million jobs available in 2022, that is double compared to the figure a decade earlier in 2012.
The National Careers Service have examples and details all about green careers. And if you already know what you want, or you’re just interested in what listing are out there GreenJobs.co.uk give you the option to browse green jobs from across the UK.
Closing The Green Skills Gap in the UK
Everyone, including the government, are doing their part to increase green skills awareness and knowledge. Last year, £7.4million was awarded by government to broaden the scope of Skills Bootcamps available to individuals and businesses in the North East. The Skills Bootcamps in green skills are free and flexible courses lasting up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track their journey to securing an interview with a local employer.
Benefits Of Green Skills:
- Employability: Green skills enhance your employability by aligning you with the evolving needs of a sustainable job market.
- Knowledge: Acquiring green skills equips you with the knowledge needed to address environmental challenges and contribute to sustainable practices.
- Admirable Employee: Possessing green skills makes you more in demand, making your current employer more inclined to keep you on or making you more admiral when you apply for jobs, reflecting your commitment to creating a positive impact.
- CV Enhancement: green skills is one more thing to add to your cv, showing your dedication to development and adaptation in roles and to our world.
There are many attributes sought after from employers, and due to the climate emergency, we are seeing more jobs asking for green knowledge. The skills network have a list of the in-demanded skills across the UK as well as opportunities to gain them with their online course.
How Can You Gain Green Skills?
Check Local College Courses: Explore courses offered by local colleges, universities or schools, the growing demand means more and more educators are offering sustainable education.
Find an Apprenticeship: Explore apprenticeship opportunities in the field. Apprenticeships provide hands-on experience and practical training to develop green skills.
Ask Your Employer: Ask your manager about opportunities for training and development related to green skills within your current workplace.
Research Online Courses: Numerous online platforms offer courses and certifications in green skills, providing flexibility for self-paced learning and development.
New College Durham are offering plenty of skills bootcamps that you can take part of to gain new green skills, for example they are offering a Domestic Energy Assessor and Hydrogen awareness bootcamp. Make sure to check it out on the North of Tyne’s website to find your perfect course.
Growing your knowledge and developing in a climate friendly way is not only a way to develop in your career but it is also very important in shaping a sustainable future. By investing in green skills, individuals contribute to a global effort to mitigate environmental challenges and create thriving, sustainable economies. The time to develop is now, as we are facing the next steps and future of adaptation at work and at home.
