Skills for a greener future
Find out more about how the construction industry is changing as a result of the need to meet global net zero carbon emissions targets.
Advisers at C+K are currently working on two green careers projects in Calderdale and Kirklees. They have been talking to employers to find out how industries are changing as a result of helping the country meet its net zero targets. This research is being used to create a range of green careers information resources, and to help our client group identify and apply for green opportunities locally. Careers Professional Development (CPD) has also been developed to upskill our careers advisers so that their knowledge keeps pace with the corresponding labour market changes, and they can offer guidance around new opportunities resulting from the move to net zero.
In the construction industry, companies such as Wilmott Dixon, Robertson, Turner & Townsend, and Galliford Try are working on major construction and infrastructure projects across Calderdale and Kirklees. They are tier 1 companies, which means they bid for government and local authority contracts and design and manage projects, with most of the building work subcontracted to local companies.
To secure contracts, companies have to demonstrate how they are supporting West Yorkshire’s target to become net zero by 2038. This has led to every part of a construction project becoming ‘greener’ – from the initial design, through to the methods of construction and the materials used.
For example, on large infrastructure projects, the emphasis is on pedestrianising town and city centres, as well as on incorporating green spaces and sustainable transport options into project designs. Companies are now employing consultants to advise them on the most sustainable materials to use, which they then attempt to source as locally as possible. They are also looking at ways in which they can make construction work greener. This includes for example, changing the type and amount of water they use, using energy from renewable sources rather than fossil fuels and reducing the amount of waste they generate that goes into landfill.
For new buildings it’s about making sure they are as energy efficient as possible. This could be by making the most of natural light rather than using artificial lights, installing heat source pumps rather than a heating system that uses fossil fuels, as well as making sure buildings are well insulated to cut down on heat loss.
As in many industries that are adapting to the need to become greener, problem-solving is a key skill, along with being flexible – to work on multiple projects, and to learn to use and apply new technologies as they are developed.
C+K’s green careers projects are ongoing until March 2025, with the green careers information resources available in the new year for schools and colleges in the local area.
Anyone interested in looking for green opportunities locally should contact C+K’s Chat service on 01484 213856 or chat@ckcareers.org.uk
