Low Carbon Skills
Yorkshire Forward
Yorkshire Forward is committed to building a Low Carbon Economy (LCE) and placing the region at the forefront of gaining benefits in terms of jobs and economic opportunities, while contributing to regional environmental improvements and the global challenge of climate change. Over the next few decades, this will require the transformation of the region’s economy, workforce and skills.
In attempting to envisage what the Low Carbon Skills requirements will be in the region, Yorkshire Forward contracted Pro Enviro to conduct an investigation. Before the region’s future skills requirements could be predicted, we had to identify future low carbon economy opportunities for the region, then prioritise the skills needed to capitalise on these LCE opportunities. We solicited employer opinions on LCE opportunities and skills needs and scope out how partners can develop a coordinated approach to LCE skills in the region, including how to facilitate a dialogue between businesses and skills providers and examine what role should Yorkshire Forward play.
We found that Yorkshire & Humberside currently has a £7.9bn Low Carbon Economy, forecast to grow to £9.9bn by 2014/15, the majority of activities being in the sectors of:
- Alternative fuel (vehicles)
- Building technologies
- Wind
- Alternative fuel (general)
- Recovery and recycling.
The biggest Low Carbon opportunities for the region are in the sectors of:
- Power generation
- Micro-generation
- Biofuels and transport
- Construction and buildings
- Materials / resource efficiency
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable procurement,
- Supply chain development.
We then listed the skills types and capacities required to meet this anticipated demand, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Renewable Energy, Biomass, Waste, and delivered an action plan to include how they would be delivered, e.g. apprenticeships, HE/ FE courses, and which major players should be prominently involved in that delivery, including SSCs, Employers and FE/ HE Institutions.
Print this page