| Zusammenfassung |
This research project will generate crucial new insights into how to develop and sustain local skills ecosystems capable of supporting the green transition in England. The challenge The UK government has committed to reaching ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions by 2050, necessitating a transition to a sustainable economy (i.e. the ‘green transition’). A key challenge in achieving this transition is meeting the skills needs arising from the growth of green or low carbon sectors, including renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, and retrofitting (UK Government, 2024). Crucially, these skills need to be available in the regions where green sectors are growing fastest. While retraining current workers or attracting labour from outside regions can address some short-term skills demands in these regions, the project emphasizes the need to equip the next generation of workers with the skills necessary for green growth. Thus, while existing studies tend to focus on re-skilling workers already in the labour market, this project focuses on young people (aged 16-24), examining how their skills can support the growth of new green industries. Aims and objectives The overarching aim of the project is to identify how regional educational institutions, employers, and policymakers can better align education and training provision with the skills required for emerging local green sectors. A mixed-methods approach will be used, combining quantitative analysis of education and employment data with qualitative insights from interviews. The quantitative analysis will examine the types of education and training pursued (i.e. the types of skills developed) by young people across several areas of England, using data from the Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset. Complementing this, qualitative interviews with local stakeholders, including education providers, employers, policymakers, and young people, will be conducted in two case study regions: the Tees Valley and the West Midlands. Both regions face the challenge of transitioning from ‘brown’ to ‘green industries. Examining local skills ecosystems in these regions, the project will assess the alignment between education, training, and the needs of emerging green industries. Academic and policy outputs The research will contribute to several academic literatures, including research on industrial path development examining how new economic sectors emerge and the role of skills in this process, and research on local skills ecosystems investigating how education providers, employers, labour market institutions, and government shape local skills provision and outcomes. Additionally, the project will draw on work in transition studies and labour economics anticipating the demand for green skills, contributing to existing work in these fields by examining the question of how these skill demands can be met while delivering positive outcomes for young people. The project will culminate in a set of policy recommendations designed to help local and regional governments better align skills provision with economic needs, particularly in green industries. These recommendations will be developed through workshops with local stakeholders to ensure they are aligned with local realities. The project's findings will be shared with policymakers, educational institutions, and employers to support the development of more effective skills systems that can meet the demands of the green economy. |