Work Foundation - COP26 Festival Event 'Skills for net-zero in Lancashire'

27 Sep 2021 01:29 PM

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?

The event will be held at LUMS Lecture Theatre 3, 20 October, 14:00-15:00 and guests will be able to join in person or online.

Panelists:

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

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 20th October to Wednesday 27th October 2021.