The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute) is transforming skills training to help our nation meet its net zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

The COP26 summit, taking place over two weeks in Glasgow, is bringing world leaders together to agree solutions to the global climate crisis.

The focus today (Friday) on ‘Youth and Public Empowerment’ will draw attention to how the next generation will be trained for 2 million green jobs the government plans to create by 2030.

The Institute is 100 per cent committed to delivering world class skills training to support the emerging green economy and encourage more environmentally friendly working practices.

We launched the Green Apprenticeships Advisory Panel (GAAP) in March this year to look at what current apprenticeships need adapting, so they better-support the fight against climate change, and which new ones are needed.

The panel have already identified 44 current apprenticeships that support green careers - ranging from environmental practitioners, to countryside rangers, and smart home technicians. Many more will follow as we work closely with employers to review the full range of apprenticeships we have. 

The Institute has also launched a sustainability framework. It is a vital guide to ensure employers, who design apprenticeships with support from the Institute, consider how every apprenticeship can contribute to climate change goals. We will follow a similar approach to making all technical education greener, as our influence extends, pending passage of the Skills and Post 16 Education Bill. 

Jennifer Coupland, chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, said:

“It’s so important that we drastically cut carbon emissions and curb the catastrophic effects of climate change. COP26 is doing a brilliant job of focusing minds and firming-up commitments that will force all areas of our economy to work in more environmentally friendly ways. The Institute will do everything in our power to ensure the right training is in place to support the emerging green economy and help our nation hit its net zero target.”

Leading environmentalist Judy Ling Wong, who chairs the GAAP and is Honorary President of Black Environment Network, said:

“The impact of the wave of new green jobs and apprenticeships will be vital to meeting the UK’s net zero carbon emissions target by 2050. It goes way beyond that too, offering transformative opportunity for societal concerns such as levelling up and building diversity, equality and inclusion. It will move us all towards the greener future that we want and need.”

 

Notes to Editors:

  • Employers know best what training is needed to fill skills gaps. The Institute works with thousands of them to create world leading apprenticeships and technical education.
  • For example, focusing on the green economy, Bentley Motors and Warwick Manufacturing Group are advising on how we can better train people to work in battery technology and with electric vehicles. We also engage with representatives from Chartered Banker Institute, Bank of England, and Standard Chartered Bank on green finance.
  • The GAAP’s 14 members bring extensive experience across priority sectors including energy, the shift to zero-emission vehicles, greener buildings, protecting our natural environment, green finance, and innovation. 
  • They are supported by a wider green advisory community who provide expert views on particular occupations when needed.
  • A great example of the impact already being made by the GAAP is the launch in the last month of the updated Sustainability Business Specialist apprenticeship, which now trains people to help businesses in all parts of the economy to become more sustainable. This used to have a narrow focus on agriculture but the GAAP advised on how it could be widened to serve all sectors.