Event Details

If Lancashire is to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, critical skills gaps need to be identified and addressed. This interactive session will explore the challenge of ensuring the skills system in Lancashire can help low carbon businesses to grow and contribute to meeting net-zero ambitions.

Reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 will require a transformative shift in our economy. As jobs available and the skills employers need start to change, a range of new training pathways offering training and careers guidance will be needed.

Lancashire is one part of the country where changes are already playing out due to the emergence of a thriving green business community, but lessons from the region will be relevant to other areas as Central Government and regions across the country wrestle with the economic and social changes driven by the net zero ambition.

Building on recent joint Work Foundation and Lancashire Enterprise Partnership research this event will explore the challenge of ensuring the skills system can equip low carbon businesses to grow and contribute to the county meeting its net zero ambitions.

Among the questions that will be discussed during the event, are:

• Which are the critical skills gaps that need to be addressed in order for net zero ambitions to be achieved in Lancashire?
• How can we introduce carbon literacy into the skills system?
• How can we ensure green jobs are attractive to young people?
• How can we build on the Government’s planned reforms to the skills systems to ensure that skills for green jobs are prioritised?

Guests will be able to join this event in person or online.

Panellists:

• Ben Harrison (chair), Director, the Work Foundation
• Dr Michele Lawty-Jones, Director of the Lancashire Skills Hub (part of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership)
• Jessica Davies, Professor of Sustainability and Director of the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, Lancaster University
• Trinley Walker, Policy Advisor, the Work Foundation
• Vicki Nixon, Training Manager, Westinghouse Springfields Fuels Ltd
• Sam Alvis, Head of Green Renewal at Green Alliance

This event is part of the COP26@ Lancaster University Festival, which aims to spark debate and showcase our leading specialists and research relating to climate change in the run-up to the United Nation’s COP26 in Glasgow. The week-long COP26@ Lancaster University Festival takes place from Wednesday 20^th October to Wednesday 27th October 2021.