This conference focuses on priorities for growing the green skills economy in the UK.

Taking place against the backdrop of the net zero transition, delegates will assess key opportunities and barriers to meeting current and future workforce needs.

With the Government committed to creating two million green jobs across the UK by 2030, and the recent publication of the Net Zero Review by former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore, the conference will be a timely opportunity to consider what is needed to address immediate and long-term primary skills shortages across areas including:

• low carbon heating
• sustainable aviation
• renewable energy supply chains
• environmental land management

Delegates will consider what is needed from government, and educational training and industry stakeholders to help businesses attract new talent, retrain the existing workforce, and develop new curriculum and training pathways. They will also focus on opportunities for, and barriers to funding, with local authorities calling for a national framework for green jobs.

Overall, the agenda includes discussion on:

• current labour workforce priorities: assessing immediate skills gaps – long-term plans to grow the green skills economy – fulfilling future job requirements
• training and upskilling:

• • developing education and vocational training providers to effectively equip the future workforce
  • opportunities and challenges involved in retraining workers across energy intensive sectors – potential entry into new lines of work
  • improving access to training opportunities – addressing inequalities

• funding: attracting public and private finance – investing in services to help reduce existing skills gaps – preparing for future workforce needs
• policy: priorities reforming the skills system – growing the UK green skills economy – working towards long-term net zero and levelling up ambitions

The Westminster Employment Forum are pleased to be able to include keynote contributions from Amy Jenkins, Deputy Director, Clean Growth, Green Finance and Behaviour Change for Net Zero, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; and Victoria Geroe, Senior Policy Adviser, Confederation of British Industry.

The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who are due to attend from DAERA, NI; DBT; Defra; Department for the Economy, NI; DfE; DESNZ; DLUHC; DfT; HSE; MCA; NSO; ONS; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.