The penultimate week in March saw major news breaking on a number of skills and training developments, on both a micro and macro level, in the CCR region and further afield.
Careers Wales revealed how more than 60,000 new green jobs could be created in just two years across Wales … the Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities Index ranked Cardiff as the fastest-improving UK city for talent … further west, Llanelli’s Railway Goods Shed is the focus for a unique skills-based restoration … and nationally, the ACCA is partnering with Migrant Leaders to widen the accountancy talent pipeline …
Welsh Green Economy Could Create More Than 60,000 Jobs
A report published by Careers Wales, the national careers advice service in Wales, reveals that more than 60,000 new green jobs could be created over a two-year period within the Welsh economy.
Careers Wales’ ‘Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the labour market in Wales’ report shows how the transformation towards a greener economy will lead to a growing eco-industry and, ultimately, to greater employment opportunities in Wales.
‘Green Jobs’ encompass roles that deliver goods and services which are likely to help generate lower emissions of greenhouse gases – including the ‘greening’ of existing jobs and the development of green skills.
Careers Wales’ report analysed Wales’ green economy during 2020-21, identifying a 72% increase in the number of ‘green jobs’ over the last five years – mirroring the Wales TUC estimate that more than 60,000 indirect and 45,500 direct jobs could be created as part of the green recovery over a two-year period with government investment in key projects.
While there has been a strong increase in demand for specific green jobs, these roles are only a small share of the rising green demand. Wider green skills across jobs in other sectors are increasing at an even more rapid pace, with around 70,000 more green skills career opportunities available in the UK from 2018 to 2021.
The ‘greening’ of existing roles means green skills and jobs are in demand across a wide range of industries such as construction, manufacturing, engineering and science, as businesses transition to comply with various statutory obligations relating to social impact, the drive to reduce waste and omissions and the race to achieve net zero.
In particular, there’s high demand for green jobs in skilled technical trades such as energy efficiency, environmental services and renewable energy, as well as job prospects at the lower end of the skills spectrum including process and machine operatives in environmental services.
When looking at the advertised salaries for all jobs against green jobs over the last five years in Wales, the Careers Wales’ report shows how, on average, green jobs are paid £1,504 more than others, averaging a salary of £26,644 per annum.
Cardiff Fastest Improving UK City for Talent
Improvements in jobs, income and health see Cardiff at the top of PwC’s index for change between 2017-2019 and 2018-2020 – as the fastest improving city in the UK according to the Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities Index.
The Index ranks 50 of the UK’s largest cities – plus the London boroughs as a whole – for performance against a series of 12 variables, weighted against their importance to the public.
Cardiff’s marked improvement is driven in particular by its performance in jobs, income distribution, income and health. Its workforce grew by more than 20% in the decade leading up to the pandemic – with 5,000 new jobs a year (the second fastest growth of all 50 cities in the report) including 2,000 jobs per year created by the financial services sector alone.
The report notes the sector-focused approach to growth adopted by Cardiff Capital Region (CCR): targeting fin-tech, the creative industries, advanced manufacturing and technologies like compound semiconductors – and homegrown start ups such as fin-tech firms Delio and Wealthify; and the TV production studio Bad Wolf.
Its ranking also benefited from multi-billion pound investments and private business partnerships for Central Square, Wales’ first Central Business District of scale, which is now home to the new headquarters of BBC Cymru. This comes amid investments from Cardiff University in its innovation campus developments and the University of South Wales in its School of Creative Industries.
Skills-Focused Restoration of Llanelli Landmark
Further west, the Llanelli Railway Goods Shed project is in the headlines, being used to train local apprentices and offer on-site work experience opportunities, bringing the formerly derelict Grade II listed Railway Good Shed back into valuable use.
The restoration work is being undertaken by Ammanford-based construction contractor TRJ Ltd, with the construction company working in partnership with Coleg Sir Gar and Cyfle Building Skills to create apprentice opportunities on the project – providing many training opportunities as well as generating some much-needed employment in the local area.
The project is also being used as part of the South West Wales Onsite Construction Hub – funded by CITB and coordinated by Cyfle Building Skills – which aims to give individuals the opportunity to have real-life practical work experience in the construction industry with a placement with a local construction firm.
ACCA teams up with Migrant Leaders to widen accountancy talent pipeline
ACCA UK (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has teamed up with UK charity Migrant Leaders to help find and develop the next generation of talent for the accountancy profession.
Migrant Leaders aims to inspire and develop disadvantaged young people across the UK to broaden their horizons – providing bespoke support to give them the knowledge, skills and confidence to enter and take on leadership roles in major public and private sector organisations.
Lloyd Powell, Head of ACCA Cymru/Wales, warmly welcomed this new partnership: “Migrant Leaders have a real commitment to inclusion and tackling social mobility. It’s inspirational to be working with them on their mission to support young people from all backgrounds to access quality education and career provision, to improve their life chances. We’d certainly encourage eligible ACCA students to apply as the programme’s benefits are tangible.”
Applicants must be aged 16-25 and currently or previously in state education. Either they or at least one of their parents must have migrated to the UK – or as a non-migrant, they must be from a disadvantaged background of any ethnicity.
For more updates on Skills & Talent news and programmes in Southeast Wales and beyond, go to www.venturewales.org
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