Green Skills

An estimated increase of 13-15% in people working within the natural environment sector is needed to achieve national biodiversity targets by 2030. The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee recognised that a major barrier to achieving all of the government’s biodiversity policies is a shortage of trained ecologists, and advocated for training and skills in chartered ecology as part of the Green Jobs agenda.

Green skills can relate to a variety of roles, from engineering to advocacy. Opportunities for green skills development have been identified by our partners across the region, including for government Skills Bootcamps proposals.

The RSPB and Cambridge Econometrics have estimated that improved management of peatland, saltmarsh and woodland could lead to thousands of temporary and long-term jobs being created. This in turn could lead to billions of pounds in gross value added (GVA) as a result of habitat restoration. Nature North’s NP11, comprised of business representatives from the North of England, are committed to create around 100,000 new green jobs by 2050.

Groundwork’s ‘New to Nature’ programme was established to offer people from groups that are underrepresented in nature careers the opportunity to gain 12-months of paid employment at a competitive salary in a nature job. Major environmental organisations, including WWF-UK, RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts, were part of the programme, and have retained some trainees post-placement.

To access Groundwork’s ‘Force of Nature’ report, visit: NewtoNaturePublication_Final.pdf

For more information, visit:

Biodiversity in the UK: bloom or bust?

Microsoft Word – The economic costs & benefits of nature-based solutions_final report_FINAL_V3.docx

Green Jobs – Nature North