Environmental experts sound alarm on UK’s green skills shortage
A new survey has revealed concerns about a potential green skills gap in the UK workforce, particularly in areas like waste management, climate change adaptation, and sustainability management.
The National Environmental Services Survey, conducted by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), the Environmental Services Association (ESA), Groundwork, and ESS Expo, polled professionals in the environmental services industry and found that 58% of respondents feel UK businesses are unprepared for the transition to a more sustainable future, citing a lack of necessary green skills. When asked about challenges in achieving biodiversity net-gain, the most common response was a knowledge and skills gap.
The survey highlighted acute shortages in several key areas. One in four respondents (25.69%) indicated high demand for skills in waste management and the circular economy. Over one in ten (12.33%) reported a shortage of expertise in climate change adaptation and resilience building. Other gaps were identified in sustainability management (11.41%), carbon management (8.41%), and environmental law/policy (8.06%).
Respondents broadly agreed that technology will play a crucial role, with 99.7% believing it can help accelerate the path to net zero emissions. Opportunities cited include online training, virtual reality simulations, and AI-powered personalised learning.
Dr. Adam Read, chief external affairs and sustainability officer at SUEZ and member of the Government’s Green Skills Delivery Group, comments:
“These results, while not unexpected, are concerning given recent efforts by CIWM and others to highlight the need for future skills. The resources and waste management sector will expand from 150,000 to nearly 450,000 staff in just under a decade and in order to prepare for this, the sector must continue improving its attractiveness and upskilling the current workforce to ensure staff retention.
“There are immense opportunities to rethink engagement and form new partnerships with schools, colleges, universities, and professional bodies. Key skills in demand lie in technology, design, AI, communications, engineering, policy implementation, regulation, and data analysis, plus of course in recycling, reuse, repair, upcycling, and refurbishment.
“Although the sector is feeling both policy and skills demand uncertainty right now, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Together, if we work hard, we can make huge strides in our sector’s transformation and reinvention, delivering exciting new skilled jobs that underpin the fight against climate change.”
Rob Mowat, MD of ESS Expo, adds: “The results of the survey make it abundantly clear that there is a green skills gap across the UK workforce. As we move forward, we are going to see more organisations increasingly chasing sustainability-related goals, driven in part by a younger generation that is passionate about environmental issues. However, these objectives will only be met if businesses are able to acquire the necessary green skills. This lack of preparedness could potentially hinder the UK’s ability to achieve its ambitious environmental targets and capitalise on the economic opportunities presented by the transition to a net-zero economy.
“With this in mind, it’s crucial for businesses to invest in initiatives that bridge this gap, such as upskilling training programmes, nurturing apprenticeship schemes in green sectors, and fostering collaboration with educational institutions. By working together, we can ensure the UK workforce has the capabilities to deliver a sustainable future.
“At ESS Expo, we’re using our platform to raise awareness and equip businesses with everything they need to navigate this transition. As part of our new series of educational webinars, we recently held our first session on green skills. The webinar was hugely well-attended and featured presentations and discussions on government initiatives, apprenticeship schemes, regional differences, and collaborations between UK universities and the industry. We look forward to continuing this focus at the upcoming event in September.”
The survey gathered data from 1,498 professionals from across the environmental services industry from April-May 2024. Download the full report for free on the ESS Expo websitehere.
