Coventry Green Skills Roadmap is published on Coventry City’s website and includes the following sections:

Foreword – Cllr Dr Kindy Sandhu
Background/Setting The Scene
Section 1 – Key Definitions and Aspirations
Section 2 – Green Skills In Education
Section 3 – Green Skills for Business
Section 4 – A Just Transition
Section 5 – Future Skills/Skills for Investment
References

The website does not include any date of the publication of this important roadmap.

In the Foreword, Councillor Sandhu says:

The development of green skills is vital to our future success on the planet, we need to know how to live our lives in a way that does not damage the very life support systems that sustain us. Coventry City Council have a commitment to “tackle the causes and consequences of climate change” which forms one of our three One Coventry priorities. Our Green Skills Roadmap provides actions that can be taken at all educational stages to encourage our young people to consider green careers and to support all to develop the skills needed for a more sustainable future.

The future success of our economy is dependent on a smooth transition from the use of fossil fuels towards greener alternatives and promoting Green Skills is key to that success. Our Green Skills Roadmap provides a framework for supporting local businesses to develop the right Green Skills to support their transition to more sustainable business practices. This includes ensuring we plan for ‘Just Transitions’ for workers in roles which may become obsolete within the next decade.

Our Green Skills Roadmap has been developed in partnership with key contributions and support from; Business in the Community (BiTC), Coventry College, Coventry University, CW Chamber of Commerce, Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), E.ON, The University of Warwick, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and others. I want to extend my thanks to all partners for working with Coventry City Council to develop this document.

Section 2 – Green Skills In Education says, among many other things

Key Actions and Recommendations

2.1 Widen and expand work in supporting schools to embed green skills throughout all curriculum areas and to increase the awareness of the younger generations of the importance of green skills for the future.

2.2 Establish a Young Peoples ‘Green Growth Assembly’

2.3 Training for school’s Careers Advisors to increase knowledge and confidence when supporting students with green skills and the associated job opportunities they will unlock. Including work to encourage more girls to consider engineering / electrical engineering pathways. Working to ensure that young people from all backgrounds and communities are encouraged to consider green skills options.

2.4 Work with Further Education providers to widen ‘Green Skills Pipeline’ subjects.

2.5 Work with Further Education providers to increase diversity within Green Skills pipeline subjects including engineering and manufacturing disciplines.

2.6 Work with Adult Education providers and WMCA to grow sustainability awareness and leadership offering.

Ensuring that the opportunity for young people to acquire green skills, and to have visibility of green career options, is critical. We are looking to support teachers across primary, secondary, and post-16 learning to be better able to embed these opportunities within the provision. We also want to support careers advisors to ensure that they can give young people the most appropriate advice and signposting possible.

The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) D2N2 brought together young people and employers to set up the Young People’s Green Growth Assembly. The Assembly conducted a survey of young people to establish if they knew what green skills and green jobs are and whether they wanted to pursue a career which protected the environment and wanted their future employers to have a track record of being environmentally friendly. The purpose of the Assembly is to raise the awareness of young people about green jobs and career prospects with local employers with an interactive website promoting opportunities as they arise. Coventry should look to set up a similar arrangement in partnership with our Strategic Energy Partner E.ON and others.

Teachers

The Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy identifies a joint responsibility with the education sector for preparing children and young people for the challenges and opportunities they will face “to develop a broad understanding of the importance of nature, sustainability and the causes and impact of climate change and to translate this knowledge into positive action and solutions.”

There is a major commitment to the training and development of teachers at all levels in carbon literacy and best practice for sustainable management as well as cross curricular teaching as part of the drive to deliver “Excellence in education and skills for a changing world: preparing all young people for a world impacted by climate change through learning and practical experience.”

Coventry City Council is currently identifying the core competencies required for teachers to lead sustainability initiatives across the school estate and functions. These teachers will oversee the integration of sustainability and climate change education throughout the curriculum. Students will not only learn about the importance of climate change and the science behind it, but they will also be inspired by their school’s proactive approach to addressing these issues. Lead teachers will ensure their schools set the highest standards in energy and environmental management within their buildings and estate. Schools will be managed to reduce carbon emissions and to adapt and be resilient to the effects of climate change.

These sections are followed by a great deal more useful information and references.