Rosa Wells is the Executive Dean of the School of Engineering, Digital and Sustainable Construction at University College Birmingham
The UK is still firmly on the roadmap to becoming a net zero nation by 2050.
Despite Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recent dramatic overhaul of certain policies, including relaxed targets on fossil fuel boilers and a rollback of diesel and petrol car sales by 2035, the UK still has a legally binding target to reduce zero carbon emissions. in the next 30 years.
“Although the goal of net zero feels a long way off, every educational course must be net zero compatible as a matter of urgency”
Historically, the country has been one of the biggest emitters of carbon, but the Prime Minister was keen to point out that the UK is making great inroads and progress much faster than our G7 counterparts. The shift away from coal-fired power plants to renewables has undoubtedly been particularly vital in making this era-defining journey a reality.
Construction accounts for up to 40 percent of total national emissions, so there is a lot of work to be done in the sector and many have been left stumped about where to turn after the latest announcement. Furthermore, with local authorities now also setting their own ambitious targets to reach net zero, such as the West Midlands target of 2041, there is strong pressure on everyone in the industry to sit up and do their part in decarbonising the UK’s built environment. .
The first port of call is to get the skills agenda to prepare for this mammoth task.
The skills shortage
There has been a lot of talk about the need to modernize existing buildings in the country to meet new standards and to adopt a performance approach when designing new buildings. Residential buildings account for most of the country’s emissions from property and academic research has found that the UK is lagging far behind in efforts to decarbonise the sector.
It is vital to get skilled labor as soon as possible to enable the transition.
First, employers must look to improve their current workforce in the face of the changing nature of construction and get them to think differently about their projects. Net-zero methods must become a basic component of every employee’s work and professional development.
The transition to net zero will create a wealth of economic opportunity, so it is vital to ensure that everyone is at least a good level of carbon literacy.
According to the Construction Industry Training Council (CITB) Skills for Net Zero report, it is estimated that half of the current construction workforce will need training or retraining in one form or another. So this will be no small thing.
It is clear that significant skills gaps undoubtedly mean that employers face increased construction costs, simply because it is more difficult for them to find skilled labor. This means that the onus is on both educators and employers to equip workers with the skills they need now and for the future.
Creating a future-ready workforce
Looking ahead, it is also important to think about the next generation. Are we doing enough to train our future builders, engineers and workers to be part of a future-ready workforce?
Although the goal of net zero feels a long way off, every educational course urgently needs to be net zero compatible. Integrated green skills programs across the country that reflect the government’s environmental ambitions are increasingly popular, but should be commonplace.
In addition to this, existing learning needs to be re-evaluated so that new skills relevant to net zero are properly incorporated.
Young people and industry entrants should be supported to acquire relevant skills that will help them achieve the high-value jobs of the future to meet both national and regional needs.
next steps
Ultimately, training and education will play a crucial role in the construction sector to achieve the net zero goal.
It is vital that policy fluctuations do not prevent us from investing in net zero skills. Even if the goals are moved and the goals are not clear, there will still be a demand for skilled professionals who understand net zero processes and consider sustainability at every stage of the process.
Forward-thinking companies should continue to be ambitious, expanding their learning to include opportunities to learn new methods and investing in their local universities, colleges and training centers as a way to close the skills gap.
A stronger, smarter and more sustainability-focused workforce will benefit us all, now and in the future.
