Actuate UK and Energy Systems Catapult boost green skills

The built environment is responsible for more than 40% of all carbon emissions and skills shortages in key engineering professions can threaten to derail the UK’s plans for decarbonising buildings and preparing the UK for a net zero economy. Moreover, the net zero challenge will require the sector to look to people with IT/digital, creative, energy systems, and Artificial Intelligence skills, as well as more ‘traditional’ engineering.

These are the issues to be tackled by this new strategic research project, funded by the Engineering Services Training Trust Ltd (ESTTL), with the outcomes to be shared with partner industry organisations in the umbrella body Actuate UK so the improved understanding and training innovations can benefit the whole engineering services sector. The research will also seek to quantify the benefits to business from having well-trained, competent people, and the business case for companies to be involved in skills development.

The Energy Systems Catapult Capabilities Director, Richard Halsey, said: “we’re embarking on an in-depth study of the built environment sector, aiming to take a once in a generation opportunity to produce ‘a robust strategy’ to transform the culture to encourage upskilling and unleash innovation.

“Net zero buildings need to work for the people who use them…that won’t happen unless the workforce knows how to plan, design and deliver to meet those needs and can do so to the pace and scale needed to meet the challenge of climate change.”

Commenting on the research project, Andrew Eldred, Director of Workforce and Public Affairs at ECA, one of the Actuate UK members, added:

“Tens of thousands of engineering services workers already possess the core competences required to deliver net zero. But, the sector’s recruitment of apprentices and others, including career changers, needs to grow substantially. We also require more accessible, high-quality upskilling training for net zero.”

Helen Yeulet, Director of Training and Skills of Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), who also leads the Actuate UK Skills Group, will be working with ESC and industry stakeholders on this project. “The net zero agenda is already presenting a range of new challenges to our members and those of our partners in Actuate UK,” she said.

“To remain at the heart of the net zero discussion we must ensure we have a suitably trained workforce with a range of new skills to go with the technical and process innovations our sector has already developed.

“Employers will need to recruit from a much wider demographic than we do currently – to meet our responsibilities and take advantage of the huge business opportunities. Our work with the ESC will help to clarify what strategies and innovations we need to make progress”, she added.