6 Ways We’re Preparing Wales for the Green Jobs of Tomorrow

It’s been one year since we launched our Future Skills Strategy — and what a year it’s been. From classrooms to construction sites, we’ve been busy preparing Wales for the jobs of tomorrow. As new industries grow and technology reshapes the world of work, our mission is simple: make sure Wales has the talent, training and tenacity to seize every opportunity.

Here are 6 highlights from our first year — and how they’re shaping the future of work in Wales.

1. Engaging thousands of young minds

We’ve visited 23 primary schools (~1,357 pupils), 14 secondary schools (~1,068 pupils), 5 colleges (~255 students), along with 7 visits to Additional Learning Needs schools (~245 pupils), and four non-work-experience office visits (~62 students). That’s a total reach of ~4,840 pupils/students so far. Our interactive workshops tackle climate change, renewables and future careers — inspiring students to see themselves in the sector early.

2. Opening up green careers to all, especially girls and young women

We know that more diverse talent will strengthen the supply chain in Wales. As part of our work we’ve supported female STEM learners (for example via a Women’s Network at Gower College) and ensured our school-visits feature speakers from across sectors, so girls and under-represented groups see role models in renewable energy.

3. Real-world work experience and internships

Our work experience placements are open from Year 10 onwards. Over the past year we’ve hosted 36 students for placements with us — and more than 40 of our staff volunteered to make the experience worthwhile. Students meet colleagues, visit sustainability-business sites and take on tasks that mirror real-life roles: critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and communication skills all come into play.

4. Upskilling beyond the classroom

For those aged 16+ and beyond, we’re supporting training and retraining in the renewables arena. Highlights include: participating in college careers events (e.g., at Coleg Gwent, St David’s College, Coleg y Cymoedd, Merthyr College), supporting the Physics Mentoring Project (six Welsh universities), and funding three planning-master’s students at Cardiff University (so give in total). By engaging at this pivotal 16+ stage, we help make renewable energy a viable and exciting career path.

5. Building partnerships and spreading impact

Our strategy has a “golden thread” of partnerships: with non-profits, schools, universities, careers-organisations and local industry. For example, we’ve delivered hands-on climate education to 5 schools via our partner Our Classroom Climate; worked with the education arm of Dragons RFC; and collaborated with Careers Wales Business Engagement Advisers. By working together we extend our reach and embed sustainability-skills thinking in local communities.

6. Embedding industry-community pathways

We’ve engaged with our suppliers early, host “Meet the Buyer” events at each proposed energy-park project, and introduced a Social Value Standard requiring 2 % of each project-contract’s value to be reinvested in local communities. A recent example: our partnership with Drenewydd Actif Newtown (DAN), where our contractor RSK Group delivered essential ecology, ornithology and contaminated-land surveys worth ~£12,000 in-kind. That’s practical job-skills and local benefit tied into our strategy.