Half of young Londoners want a “green” career
New research, funded through the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) for the Local London sub-region, has highlighted how a lack of knowledge and understanding of the green and digital job sector is preventing people from taking up a wealth of opportunities in the sector.
Figures from the survey of over 1,000 Londoners aged between 16-25-years-old reveal that despite half wanting to pursue a career in the green sector, almost a third (29%) have little to no knowledge of what green skills mean.
Furthermore, they felt there were large barriers to entry including not knowing where to begin (42%) and feeling that they wouldn’t be able to earn enough in the field (37%), while a third (33%) mistakenly believed there were no job opportunities where they lived.
In fact, research by WPI, economic consultancy, highlighted that green jobs in London are set to double by 2030. With many companies struggling to fill vacancies, there are huge opportunities for young Londoners training to enter this workforce.
Welcoming the research Sarah Murray, Director of Local London commented “The findings from this LSIF-funded survey confirm the important role education has to play in preparing young people for the predicted boom in green and digital jobs. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to ensure training provision meets employers’ needs.”
The government-funded Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) supports local education and training providers to develop and deliver training that directly addresses the needs of local employers and businesses as identified in the sub-region’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP).
Local London is working with employers across the sub-region’s nine boroughs to ensure the LSIP continues to meet market needs. Much of the work the sub-regional body does to help adults into employment and help young people understand all their career options focusses on these priorities.
Boosting local learners’ green and digital skills
From the education perspective, a new investment of £6.5m from the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) has been secured by a group of 23 further education, higher education and skills providers in North East and South East London, led by London South East Colleges. This will be used to put local learners in the best possible position to secure jobs in the green and digital sectors.
This investment will see current and future learners across the Local London sub-region benefit from new state-of-the-art facilities, along with the development of new courses and qualifications, new approaches for collaborative teaching, and digital and green skills training for teaching and non-teaching staff.
⇒ Read the full press release on the Green Jobs and Skill Partnership website.
Digital jobs video
Watch this video developed by the Local London Green Jobs and Skills Partnership, focusing on the lack of understanding around the digital sector and dispelling some common myths and misconceptions.
Related content
Watch Louise Wolsey, Group Chief Strategy Officer, London South East Colleges, talk to the news team at London Live here (first broadcast 6 pm 25 April 2024)
⇒ Find out more about the LSIF and the work of the Local London Green Jobs and Skills Partnership