A new Groundwork report has found that more needs to be done to encourage young people towards a career in the waste and resource management industry to tackle plugging the green skills gap.
In Planning for the future: Recruiting diverse talent into waste and resources management, 70% of 16-24 year olds surveyed have never received any careers advice on the skills required or roles available in the waste and resources management sector, while around half cited a lack of information as a career barrier, despite the UK government legislating a Net Zero emissions target in 2019 for 2050.
However, in spite of so many young people admitting to not considering a career in the sector, almost half (47%) reported that having a job that helps the UK reach carbon neutrality was important to them, with more of those in the older 18-24 age group considering it important (49%) than those aged 16 and 17 (28%). This suggests that more work needs to be done for employers and those with influence to educate Gen Z on the role they play in achieving Net Zero.
The report has been written in collaboration between Groundwork the Environmental Services and Solutions Expo and will be released at the event on Wednesday 11 September by Groundwork’s Head of Delivery and Learning, Andy Harrison.
Garry Campbell, Head of Policy & Communications at Groundwork UK, said: “If the UK is to meet its carbon targets, it will require a new and diverse workforce, yet, sadly, our report highlights the work that must be done to ensure young people, particularly those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, don’t miss out on rich and rewarding careers in the environmental sector.
“To achieve this, we need a mix of better careers guidance in schools, action to inspire young people about the opportunities on offer, and a concerted effort in the sector to create more accessible career pathways.
Rob Mowat, Managing Director of ESS Expo, said: “The waste and resources management sector offers a diverse array of career pathways, and this is only expected to increase as roles continue to emerge and evolve. However, it is essential that as a group, we come together to boost the visibility of the sector as central to the UK’s climate mission.
“As an industry, we need to seek out ways of better communicating the opportunities, roles, and benefits of working in the sector in a way that truly resonates with the younger generation. We also need to pair this with tackling the perceived barriers to entry for maximum success.”
While there is still clearly work to be done, there are a number of projects and initiatives ongoing which aim to increase the attractiveness and diversity of the sector. However, while they represent an incredibly positive step, such initiatives require engagement from within the sector with the support of charities as well as government to actively deliver change. Following are examples of projects which have worked successfully and can be adapted as necessary.
Groundwork’s New to Nature is a programme of paid work placements designed to deliver life-changing career opportunities for people from under-represented groups, whilst contributing to wider efforts to create a more diverse and accessible natural environment sector. The programme was developed to respond to the need for a new green workforce and a lack of diversity in the environmental sector, and is being delivered through a partnership of Groundwork, Youth Environmental Service, Prince’s Trust, Disability Rights UK, and Mission Diverse and is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
