New Forest National Park Authority calls for better access to green careers

New Forest National Park Authority calls for better access to green careers - New Forest National Park Authority

person in PPE including hardhat and ear defenders cutting a bundle of withies on a sawhorse; they are watched by three other people, all of them are standing in a woodland clearing in autumn / winter (no leaves on the trees) — Intern involved in woodland management. (Credit NFNPA)

Green careers need to be made more visible and accessible if the UK is to transition to a low-carbon economy and meet its ambitious net-zero target by 2050, according to new research involving the New Forest National Park Authority.

The report, produced by researchers at the University of Southampton, Swansea University and Cardiff University, in partnership with the New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) and Greenprint, a regional partnership promoting green growth, explores the views of careers advisers, employers, local authorities and environmental organisations in the Hampshire and Solent region and sets out practical recommendations on how more people can be encouraged into green careers.

The research found that while demand for green skills continues to grow, many young people remain unaware of the range of opportunities available. Participants said stronger partnerships between education providers and employers, better careers guidance and more paid work experience and apprenticeships would help create clearer pathways into the sector.

The findings are now acting as a catalyst for a programme of collaborative work between university and regional partners to turn those recommendations into practical initiatives that improve access to green careers.

Jim Mitchell, Access and Learning Manager at the New Forest National Park Authority, said: ‘Many people still picture green careers as working in conservation, but the opportunities are much broader than that. Green skills are becoming part of almost every profession. Giving young people the chance to understand and experience that first-hand is one of the most effective ways to inspire future careers. By working together with schools, employers and community partners, we can help people see what’s possible and build their confidence to take that first step.’

Read: ‘Improving visibility and access to green careers in Hampshire and the Solent’ by Dr Ashrafunnesa Khanom, Dr Sheena Carlisle, Jacqueline Nightingale and Dr Emma Rawlings Smith.