An innovative scheme to ensure young people in schools across the West of England consider careers in the green jobs of the future will be expanded - Metro Mayor Dan Norris has announced.
Speaking at the Mayoral Combined Authority’s annual careers conference (this Wednesday 12 July at 10am, South Glos and Stroud College, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS34 8LP) attended by over 100 headteachers and career professionals, the Mayor will announce The West of England Green Futures programme will be boosted by £300,000.
The Mayor said: “I know how passionate young people are about tackling the climate emergency. The good news is that there are lots of great green jobs that will be available when they enter the workplace. These are high-skilled, long-term green careers. But young people need to know how to access these jobs. That’s what this West of England Green Futures programme is all about. If we are going to meet our ambitious net-zero targets we are going to need electric car mechanics, sustainability engineers, carbon accountants and an army of retrofitters. I am determined that local young people find out about all the opportunities open to them and gain the skills they need to succeed.”
A recent survey found over 50% of young people want to have environmentally sustainable careers. But for many the range of jobs is daunting, and lots of youngsters don't feel they know how to get the skills to get one. Some of the jobs may be new to teachers and career advisors too.
The West of England Green Futures programme is designed to tackle this.
A successful trial programme last year saw 10 schools across the region set up bespoke green careers programmes with 3,000 youngsters taking part. This includes kids at South Bristol secondary schools including Merchants’ Academy, Bedminster School and Oasis Academy John Williams who took part in super-practical sessions about how to build successful careers that help the planet led by the brilliant South Bristol Youth Group. It is hoped dozens more schools can now benefit from the expanded programme.
