PBC Today sat down with Amanda Lewis, programme leader for MSc Urban Planning at the University College of Estate Management (UCEM), to discuss the green skills shortage and how to tackle it
Recent research by UCEM has shown that there is a severe shortage of green skills in the construction industry. We sat down with Amanda Lewis, the programme leader for MSc Urban Planning at UCEM, to discuss the topic in more depth
What are the key issues that have led to the currently poor state of sustainability skills?
Amanda cited a lack of foresight, a lack of money, ‘austerity’ culture, and the wherewithal as key issues.
She went on to say: “Despite a plethora of professional, commercial, governmental and think-tank research reports over the years, indicating a good deal of data collection, evaluation and debate, there appears to be little in the way of a co-ordinating and translating these findings into an effective and implemented strategy.
“From not appreciating the urgency of climate change, to not grasping the economic advantage of funding education for sustainability (or ESD) and concurrently allowing construction skills to become woefully depleted, the UK is not alone finding itself without the necessary sustainability skills to hand.”
With the growing demand for sustainability skills, what specific steps can be taken to address the skills gap and support professionals in meeting the UK’s net-zero targets?
Amanda said that specific focuses to tackle the green skills shortage could be on in-house training, such as peer to peer; CPD events for employees, such as case studies/visits, PSRB, trade (products and services); and credit bearing courses.
Amanda commented: “The more effective approach is likely to be multi-pronged, multi-scaled and from multiple organisations. Education works in different ways for different people, so the greatest range of types of opportunities will have the greatest impact.
“Activities from local, in-house, peer-to-peer training, through regional CPD events between professional and trade companies (both product and service), to recognised credit-bearing modules and courses, will all be relevant. Again, putting these into operation rather than merely discussing them will be the ultimate test of success.”
Given that 73% of respondents report difficulty in recruiting candidates with sustainability expertise, how can the built environment sector and educational institutions collaborate more effectively to ensure that graduates possess the necessary skills for industry demands?
Amanda stated that the apprenticeship levy is a good start, however it could use some fine tuning to make it more simplified, flexible, and rewarding for all involved. She also said that finding the time to collaborate, not necessarily in big events but in more frequent smaller events would help. Professional services organisations within the built environment sector could also engage more openly with construction trades to tackle the green skills shortage.
She commented: “There are many ways in which collaboration already takes place between education and industry, such as apprenticeships, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), trade fairs, exhibitions/expos, conferences, as well as more informal gatherings. However, several of the ‘big’ initiatives such as apprenticeships and KTPs can in practice, be overly complicated, time-consuming or expensive.
“It would be beneficial to all if there was a more co-operative culture and sense of ‘being in it together’, of aiming for the same goal. Possibly, a vast number of small-scale initiatives that are encouraged from the bottom-up, (as opposed to large-scale, top-down), could lead us to where the built environment sector needs to be. Who or what would instigate this is difficult to say, but I expect the third sector is likely to play a significant part.”
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