Businesses must inspire and empower young people to seek green careers.

To celebrate the occasion of Eddie’s Business Leadership Month, Rhian Kelly, Director of National Grid and Member of the Green Jobs Taskforce, reflects on National Careers Week and how companies can help the next generation of sustainability experts.

In March, it began National Careers Week (w/c 7 March) that shed light on the many options for careers and paths to different fields, professions, and sectors. For companies, it’s an opportunity to promote training and careers including apprenticeships, graduate programs, internships, and summer internships and consider ways they can draw the top talent. Across sustainability-focused companies, it’s also a huge chance to reflect on their engagement with the current and next generation, and ensure they’re doing everything they can to raise awareness of climate-focused jobs and encourage young children through to graduates to consider these roles.

In for the UK energy sector, only the need for 400,000 green jobs must be filled before reaching net-zero, according to National Grid research. In addition, the government has proposed an increase of 2 million green jobs before 2030. the risk of failing to bridge the gap in green skills could slow the transition to clean energy. It is essential to have the most qualified people in the appropriate positions to achieve this plan in the next few years and years to come. To achieve this, companies must be aware of the ways they can encourage and motivate today’s young people to enter the workforce and help to combat climate change.

Competitions and interactive workshops

Many organizations participate in school visits and career fairs, offering talks and sharing information about how to work in the workplace. However, they could take it an extra step to make a greater impact on developing an environmentally sustainable future. It could be through contests or interactive workshops where students must think about ways to address current or future issues, like hydrogen’s potential, as well as the future for electric vehicles. And collaborate on ideas for tackling the climate crisis and get the chance to meet with top industry experts.

Visits to sites and hubs for education

Businesses should also think about facilitating visits to projects that showcase the exciting work being carried out towards achieving net-zero. Visiting these sites in person can help create green jobs and highlight the variety of careers that these jobs could lead to and the range of innovations within this field. Alongside arranging visits, teams of project managers can be thinking about creating education centers that allow young people to see the magnitude of work being carried out.

One example of how they can help to increase excitement about the energy transition is the educational center at the National Grid’s North Sea Link interconnector site in Blyth. Through school visits to local schools where children from the area can learn about electricity interconnectors and how they operate, and the important function they have in the United Kingdom’s net-zero goals.

Responsible business commitments

Companies are now looking more closely at ways they can fulfill the goals of being an ethical employer. Progress in achieving their sustainability goals is an important aspect of that. Making commitments and goals that force the organization accountable must include measures that teach young people about the organization’s purpose and create curiosity about the possibilities to work with teams that fulfill the mission. This could include offering STEM training programs and assistance, focusing on schools in less privileged areas, and setting recruitment goals that will ensure a consistent method of working youngsters. In this way, you will be able to establish an obligation in the organization to engage with the schools and communities while creating an avenue of potential employees for the company.

Initiatives and programs that help people from less fortunate backgrounds.

The road to net-zero requires people with diverse backgrounds and backgrounds. The efforts to reach out to those with the lowest socioeconomic levels have increased over the last few years as companies realize the benefits of attracting the top people across the nation. Establishing specific initiatives will ensure that the process continues and that those who live in disadvantaged communities can gain access to training and job opportunities across various industries. For instance, National Grid has a program that, at National Grid, over 3000 youngsters from these communities have gone via the Grid for Good program. Many have received mentorship or CV-related advice, and some get jobs and paid work placements.

Businesses need to adopt an active approach.

Employers must adopt proactive measures to get people thinking about careers and jobs, which will help boost sustainability and climate goals. Young individuals must fill vital green jobs with fresh ideas and new perspectives. It’s a race to the finish line. If the UK wants to create the workforce required to create a clean energy future, businesses need to get involved right now.