Greenskiling Special Part One The Basics: What is Greenskiling?
By Fay Capstick
A term that we are hearing about more and more is greenskilling. It’s a word that you might not have encountered before, but you are going to. The UK government acknowledge that there is currently low public awareness, as well as inconsistent definitions, which is not helping highlight the problem and the opportunities that the Green Revolution will present.
To help clarify and ease the transition, this week we will start a three-part deep dive into greenskilling; what it is, what it means, what skills are in short supply, and how it is going to change things.
This week we start with the basics: what is greenskilling, how this will impact you and whether a skills gap exists in the UK.
Let’s get started!
Greenskilling? I’ve never heard of it
Greenskilling is something that we are all going to be hearing a lot about.
It is all part of the drive for the UK to become a low-carbon economy. Greenskilling is all about the Green Skills required to make this massively essential jump. It will also help us meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs). This will mean moving away from fossil fuels towards becoming a sustainable society.
Can you be more specific?
Greenskilling refers to the technical skills, abilities, attitudes, and knowledge that will be needed to help achieve the goal of net zero carbon emissions. The UK aims to be net zero by 2050. Considering that 2023 was the hottest year in history, it is vital that the UK hits this target. Greenskilling is all about becoming part of a more sustainable future.
It is expected that green skilling will add millions of jobs to the world economy - one figure puts this estimate at 103 million new jobs. This couldn’t come at a better time as we expecting an upheaval due to the advent of AI into society. However, it is estimated that only 1 in 8 currently have the relevant job skills required, with women most affected.
Will this actually impact me?
Yes, greenskilling will impact everyone. This is because our country and economy will have to radically change the way it operates in order to become greener. Upskilling will be needed by workers and some sectors will need to increase staff. This is good for the economy as it will mean that the UK will be better able to compete in the global economy. Green skills will become a business essential.
Is there a skills gap?
Absolutely, and it’s a big one! It is expected that there will soon be more jobs requiring green skills than qualified candidates to fill them. This is expected to increase year on year. Currently, green roles are increasing by 8% annually and have done so for the past 5 years. The supply of skilled workers is not keeping up with demand.
Next week
Next week we will go a bit deeper and start to look a the green skills that are going to be essential as we move into a zero-carbon future. In our final part, we will discuss green HR management. The green gender gap, why we should embrace the green revolution, and finally what Parker Shaw is doing to play our part.
Final thoughts
At Parker Shaw we have been at the forefront of the sector we serve, IT & Digital Recruitment and Consulting, for over 30 years. We can advise you on all your hiring needs. If you are looking for your next job in the IT sector please check our Jobs Board for our current live vacancies at https://parkershaw.co.uk/jobs-board.