Green skills will be critical in unlocking net zero, attendees at a breakfast roundtable in Parliament affirmed on Wednesday 12 February, as experts across Whitehall and industry came together for National Apprenticeship Week.
The aim of the event, jointly hosted by National Gas and Andrew Pakes MP – who is Chair of both the Apprenticeship APPG and the Future of Work APPG – was to discuss the opportunities apprenticeships and re-skilling programmes could bring to the utilities workforce through the greater adoption of green skills. This is especially in light of the ‘green skills gap’, which has seen a shortage of workers with this highly specialised skill-set, including for those working on emerging green technologies, such as hydrogen or CCS.
By plugging this gap through the apprenticeship route or by re-skilling the current workforce, this burgeoning sector could help to secure jobs, protect industries and ensure economic prosperity while supporting the government’s growth mission.
The breakfast roundtable, which was also attended by the MP for North West Cambridgeshire Sam Carling and leading skills specialists, saw discussions of how Peterborough could have a leading role in the green transition.
In order for Peterborough and the UK to lead in the transition, attendees identified several key barriers to overcome. These include the need for aligned energy policy decisions to give stakeholders certainty for future planning, ensuring collaboration between Government and industry to develop comprehensive skills pathways, and making sure that retraining existing skills for new technologies is given equal importance to training new skilled workers.
National Gas owns and operates the Peterborough Compressor Station – employing around 20 people on site. Last year National Gas hired 50 apprentices and invested £2.6 million in training, development and skills to support their work in facilitating clean power and net zero.
National Gas is urging the government to address these barriers through a few simple mechanisms – such as aligning the Growth and Skills Levy with the Industrial Strategy and growth-driving sectors, addressing resourcing and skills challenges in critical public sector institutions like regulators and educators, and ensuring the Skilled Worker visa route supports the skills required for the Industrial Strategy.
Jake Tudge, Corporate Affairs Director, National Gas, said: “It was a delight to host this discussion on green skills – and the steps needed from government and industry to plug the gap – as the UK looks to power the green economy.
“Collaborations between politicians and industry are essential in solving the current challenges with net zero and addressing the skills gap, while bolstering our existing highly skilled workforce.
“I want to thank Andrew for his leadership in this important area, as well as those who came along to contribute valuable insights and drive the conversation.”
Andrew Pakes, Member of Parliament for Peterborough, said: “It cannot be stated often enough, nor loudly enough, that apprenticeships not only transform the lives of those who take them, they are also vital to reaching net zero. They are vital to having the skills needed to power the green transition. We need to invest in people – people’s skills, people’s energy, people’s talents.
“Apprenticeships are the answer to reaching net zero and transforming job opportunities across the country.”
Rachel Nicholls, Principal and Chief Executive, Inspire Education Group said: “We are passionate about inspiring the workforce of tomorrow, today, and there is no greater priority than equipping young people with the skills we will need for the net zero transition.
“We are delighted to be partnering with National Gas in this important work, discussing how we can facilitate the development of green skills in Peterborough.”
Professor Ross Renton, University Principal, ARU Peterborough said: “As the transition to net zero continues, it’s more important than ever to ensure emerging talent is given the right tools to succeed and drive progress in sustainability efforts.
“Anglia Ruskin University is one of the country’s largest providers of degree apprenticeships, working with over 1,000 different employers, and we welcome the opportunity to foster the collaboration between Westminster, industry and the education sector in this vital area.”
