21.10.2024

CIWM outlines opportunities for UK Green Skills Growth and pledges support for Circular Economy Taskforce

CIWM (The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management) has set out its proposition for government in response to the formation of Skills England, including advocating to expand green skills development beyond the energy sector, thereby creating a comprehensive skills pipeline essential for supporting a robust green economy.

Recently, CIWM representatives met with Mary Creagh CBE MP to pledge its support for green skills creation and to share three key areas that it believes must be prioritised to help address the UK’s green skills gap and further the ambitions outlined in the ‘Industrial Strategy and Green Prosperity Plan.’ Outlined in CIWM's Skills Position Paper, which has already garnered support from over 28 organisations, the three proposed areas capable of delivering swift and impactful change are:

Diversifying the Apprenticeship Levy to Create a Green Skills Fund – This ring-fenced fund would act as a catalyst for transitioning to a more circular economy, allowing flexible use for approved qualifications, training, career advice, and regional excellence hubs to ensure the development of the right technical skills and innovation for complex change.
Developing the UK Green Skills Roadmap – A green skills roadmap is essential for UK industry, detailing the skills needed to close the current job gap in the short and medium term. This roadmap will provide clarity for professional bodies, training and education institutions, and businesses, enabling them to invest in developing courses, workforce, and infrastructure to meet future demands.
Investment in Career Attractiveness – The government has a significant opportunity to stimulate the development of skills alongside complementary infrastructure, policy, and behavioural changes. Specific investment in training and retraining programmes for green skills must be integrated into policy, along with enhanced career support and promotion within the education system.

CIWM also welcomed the establishment of the Circular Economy Taskforce, believing that this body could take the lead on skills planning for the circular economy. To demonstrate its support, CIWM has pledged the resources of its Skills for the Future Working Group—a coalition of over 70 dedicated professionals across the sector who have previously aided the government in delivering evidence-based insights, a sector skills matrix, learning and development content, and policy influence, as well as the expertise of the CIWM Group’s 18,000 individual members and 300 corporate members.

CIWM Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs, Dan Cooke, stated: “CIWM acknowledges the Government's recognition of the limitations of the Apprenticeship Levy. We also believe there should be a greater emphasis on developing a green skills pipeline beyond just the energy sector, and we welcome the introduction of the Circular Economy Taskforce.

"As an independent, charitable, and chartered organisation, CIWM is ideally positioned to support Defra and Skills England in tackling these skills challenges and meeting this need. Government has a real opportunity to prioritise the three key areas we’ve outlined in our Skills Position Paper to ensure focus and to deliver the greatest impact in the short to mid-term.

"I’d also like to thank the CIWM Skills for the Future Working Group for all their important contributions and ongoing support.”

The meeting with Mary Creagh CBE MP followed a discussion with Jacqui Smith, MP Minister of State (Minister for Skills) in the Department for Education, during a panel session on future skills needs at the Labour Party Conference in September.

Any organisations wishing to lend their support to the CIWM Skills Position Paper can do so by contacting Katie Cockburn, Senior Director of Policy, Communications & External Affairs - katie.cockburn@ciwm.co.uk.

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