BLOG: Helping those who need them most find good green jobs
By Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive
September and October see the main political parties in the UK vying for attention at their party conferences. These events are an opportunity to rally and enthuse supporters, to capture media headlines but also, away from the spotlight, to host debates that help test ideas and formulate policy.
This year the party leaders were intent on setting out clear dividing lines while simultaneously engaging in a round of ‘who’s more patriotic’. Beneath the point-scoring, however, there was considerable consistency around the ‘big issues’ our political class are wrestling with – how to jump-start the economy, stem the rising tide of ill-health and worklessness, and improve living standards in our most disadvantaged areas.
You had to dig a little deeper to find it but there was also consensus on the need to protect the environment – albeit with sharply divergent views on whether that should be done through things like net zero targets.
One thing that all parties agreed on was that something needs to be done about the fact that, at the latest count, nearly one million young people are not in education, employment or training. Some blame the government for pushing up wage costs, others point to challenges in education and a lack of flexibility in the apprenticeship system. Underlying all of this is a story about the aftermath of the pandemic and structural changes in the economy.
As is so often the case, out of crisis comes potential opportunity.
The majority of politicians and businesses are of the view that we need to grow the economy in a way that also brings benefits in terms of sustainability – reducing carbon, restoring nature and managing natural resources more efficiently. In all of these priority sectors there is a lack of capacity, a lack of skills and a lack of diversity. Indeed industry voices warn that without investment in the workforce Government is unlikely to be able to deliver big parts of its broader agenda – building new homes and insulating old ones through its Warm Homes Plan, regenerating our most deprived neighbourhoods through its Pride in Place strategy, restoring our waterways, reducing waste etc.
However, it’s not as easy as saying there are a million jobs that need doing and a million young people needing a job. We can’t just rely on the fact that ‘green jobs’ are jobs with purpose. They also need to be jobs with prospects and with realistic routes of progression. That’s why Groundwork is working with partners and employers to understand these entry points and pathways – ensuring jobs in nature, in energy, in the circular economy, are visible and accessible to young people, come with the support some might need to be successful and offer training and skills that are transferable.
At the Labour party conference the Chancellor announced that all young people who have been claiming Universal Credit for 18 months will be guaranteed a temporary job. This is an opportunity that mustn’t be wasted. For a start it offers the chance to bring real benefits to communities and the environment – prioritising work that protects and improves community facilities and our natural infrastructure. However, it also unlocks capacity and resources that can help emerging sectors of the green economy to grow – allowing employers to invest in their future workforce and helping them meet demand, which in turn builds confidence in the transition we need to make.
Being out of work for an extended period of time as a young person has a dramatic impact on future earnings. This is a chance to ensure that those who are currently struggling to get a foothold in the labour market aren’t left further behind but are given a platform to prove themselves and to be at the forefront of a green industrial revolution.
Notes to editors
For more information please contact: media@groundwork.org.uk
About Groundwork
Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience in order to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all: www.groundwork.org.uk