"Every UK job has the potential to be green" reports government-backed sustainability taskforce

A new report backed by the government has said that every UK job has the potential to be green.

The Green Jobs Taskforce has today (July 14) presented 15 recommendations to the government on how to deliver the workforce needed for a ‘green industrial revolution’.

The recommendations included the publication of a detailed net zero strategy, new policies to promote green jobs and collaboration between the government and the education sector to provide pathways into green jobs.

It also added that more workers should be trained to support green infrastructure, eventually enabling all jobs in the country to be ‘green’.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, UK energy & climate change minister and co-chair of the Green Jobs Taskforce, commented: “As we lead the world in tackling climate change, we need to invest in the UK’s most important asset – its workforce – so that our people have the right skills to deliver a green industrial revolution and thrive in the jobs it will create.

“That’s why today we have welcomed the recommendations put forward by the Green Jobs Taskforce, which are a big step forward in delivering the skilled workers and green jobs essential for the UK’s transition to net zero.

“Its report, alongside our ambitious skills programmes, will be invaluable to us as we build a pathway into green careers for people from all backgrounds and ensuring that workers and communities dependent on the high-carbon economy are supported as we build back greener into a cleaner future.”

Gillian Keegan, minister for apprenticeships and skills and co-chair of the Green Jobs Taskforce, said: “We are focused on delivering the talent pipeline businesses need for green jobs now and in the future.

“From Skills Bootcamps to apprenticeships, our skills programmes will ensure people are able to acquire the skills needed for the growing green economy.

“We welcome the Taskforce’s findings which will help us to drive forward our ambitious green skills revolution, supporting more people of all backgrounds to get the skills they need to build great careers and help us reach our goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

“In a further drive to ensure people have the right skills to deliver the transition to a net zero economy and pursue green careers, the UK government has already rolled out a range of initiatives and skills programmes to build low carbon industries across the country and help people thrive in the jobs this will create.

“This includes working with employers to boost green apprenticeship opportunities and supporting more adults to gain the skills they need to progress into green jobs through upskilling and training programmes.

“These initiatives will build on existing action already underway including green apprenticeships and green skills bootcamps, strengthening the government’s ambition to support the creation of 2 million skilled jobs by 2030 to build back greener and reach net zero emissions by 2050.”