The document discusses preparing the workforce for jobs in the growing low carbon economy. It outlines that the UK aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 to mitigate climate change. This low carbon transition is expected to create many new green jobs in areas like renewable energy, energy efficiency retrofits, and low carbon product manufacturing and exports. However, a skilled workforce must be developed through the education and training system. The document reviews current low carbon education and skills programs in UK universities and colleges, and identifies gaps that must be addressed to fully realize the low carbon economic opportunity.

1. Preparing the Low Carbon Workforce:
An Assessment of Education and
Skills Provision
Gareth Morris
Salford Housing and Urban Studies Unit
University of Salford

2. The low carbon economy….
…. why?

3. 80% reduction…
… by 2050
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4. Photo courtesy of Glogger. GNU Free Documentation License. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Urbine_raising062p.jpg
Job creation

5. Low carbon exports
£50bn Germany
£10bn UK
Source: Environmental Audit Committee (2009) Green Jobs and Skills, London: The Stationary Office

6. Legislation

7. Emissions Trading
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8. Photo courtesy of Estormiz. Work released into the public domain. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rusko_Landfill_20090530.JPG
Reducing business
waste

9. Policy

11. Feed-in tariffs
Photo courtesy of Bidgee. CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electricity_pylons.jpg

12. Renewables
Obligation

13. Energy Company
Obligation (ECO)
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14. Zero carbon homes
Photo courtesy of Nigel Cox. CC Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beddington_Corner,_The_BedZED_estate_-_geograph.org.uk_-_415459.jpg

15. EPCs

16. Barriers…….
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17. Photo courtesy of Ken Fields. CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thin_Film_Flexible_Solar_PV_Installation_2.JPG

18. Confusion about
being ‘green’

19. Preparing
leaders

20. The
of the task

21. Greater Manchester
homes
1.1 million
Source: http://www.mshp.org.uk/news/pdfs/RSLproviderforum.pdf

22. Loft and cavity
measures
400,000
Source: http://www.mshp.org.uk/news/pdfs/RSLproviderforum.pdf

23. Renewable Technologies
NW region potential training need 2010-2020
4. Air source heat pumps 5,127
3. Micro wind energy 5,138
2. Ground source heat pumps 5,850
1. Solar water and heating 6,594
(+ 22,000 more for other technologies)
Source: Summit Skills (2010) Potential Training Demand in Environmental Technologies in Building Services Engineering. Trend Analysis 2008-9: Stage 1

24. HE ‘low carbon’ courses in the UK
STEM subjects
De Montfort University: Green Energy Technology BSc
Queen Mary University: Sustainable Energy Systems MSc
Leadership and management
University of Edinburgh: Carbon Finance/Management MSc
University of Exeter: Renewable Energy BSc
A range of Foundation Degree courses

25. Local HE provision
University of Manchester
Environment and Sustainable Technology MSc
Man Met University
PG awards in Environmental Management and Business
University of Bolton
Renewable Energy Systems and Technologies MSc
Lancaster University
Environmental Change and Sustainable Development BSc

26. Local FE provision
National Skills Academy for Environmental Technology – a
regional ‘hub’ and ‘spokes’
Many preparing to launch for 2011/12
Focused on installation of renewable technologies
Upskilling current workforce and feeding into apprenticeships
Seeking accreditation from Green Deal and Microgeneration
Certification Scheme

27. Piecing the low
carbon economy together