On Thursday 19 January, a “first of its kind in the North”, Green Skills Academy officially launched in Trafford Park.
Established by The Growth Company, the Green Skills Academy boasts innovative green technologies and offers comprehensive training in a range of skills to both upskill the existing workforce and train future generations for jobs of the future.
It’s thought that the Green Skills Academy will play a “critical role” in Greater Manchester’s ambitions to become a net-zero city-region by 2038. It will also support businesses UK-across the UK as they aim to reduce carbon emissions by the national 2050 target.
At the launch event, attendees were able to browse the latest equipment that will help prepare today’s workforce for the opportunities and challenges presented by the global transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
The event offered the perfect opportunity to find out how the Green Skills Academy could help futureproof the workforce with green skills and help the move towards net zero.
Event attendees were able to chat with The Academy’s partners and local experts in green skills technologies to find out why they’re investing their time, resource, experience and kit into the Academy.
Attendees were able to explore the unique real-world working environments, including the on-site Low Energy Smart Home, to see green technologies in action. The house is wind turbine powered, with underfloor heating povided by the air source heat pump, all contained under one roof, allowing learners easy access to work with and explore technologies that would traditionally be outdoors.
Speakers at the launch event included Jon-Paul Rimington, Managing Director of Growth Company Education and Skills, Mrs D Hawkins JP LLB, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Roosevelt Alexander, Director of The Green Skills Academy, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham Rachael Parr, HR Director at Electricity North West and Graham Rothwell, Chief Executive Rothwell of Rothwell Plumbing Services.
Mrs Diane Hawkins JP LLB, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester said, “We’re at an important and very critical time in our history, climate change is the biggest threat we face. If we act now, we can do something about it. That ambition can only be reached by investment in new green technology and the green workforce now and in the future.
“The Green Skills Academy and its partners have a vital role in inspiring the youth of tomorrow equipping the next generation with the right skills needed to pursue greener careers. Greater Manchester, I’m delighted to say, is leading the way for this transition. This Academy is the first of its kind in the north and it is a fantastic thing to see.”
Andy Burnham Mayor of Greater Manchester says, “This is clearly the right thing to be doing for the world that we live in, as we’ve got to face up to the challenges of climate change. But, it’s also right for us it’s right for us in Greater Manchester. This academy will help people of all ages get themselves ready for the new economy, the green economy, where prosperity is. So, it is genuinely an exciting day for us.
“In Greater Manchester, we’re rethinking how we give our residents pathways to prosperity, jobs that will last and skills that will ensure they can move beyond low-paid, insecure employment. We want to bring in jobs that are there for the long term so they create a good standard of living.
“This is where Greater Manchester will succeed in the future. We’re giving all of our residents a sense of hope for a good job in the new economy and this Green Skills Academy is a massive piece in that jigsaw”
Graham Rothwell, Chief Executive of Rothwell Plumbing Services – one of the Academy’s partners said, “We currently have 700 heat pumps that need installing, so we need green skills and upskilling, and we need it now. The industry has been struggling for 20 years now, wondering when we’d get training back on track. Now is the opportunity.
We’ve had 11 employees complete the training course at The Green Skills Academy already and have more signed up next week. Every one of them has nothing but praise for the facility and trainers. If you’re in the industry get yourself enrolled before it’s too late.”
Courses at The Green Skills Academy are open to apprentices, sole traders and organisations of all sizes to help future-proof the workforce in these specialist areas. There are opportunities for those working in skilled trades across the North including electricians, plumbers, roofers, gas engineers, construction workers, heating programmers and technicians to train in green tech.
The Green Skills Academy hopes to be a one-stop-shop with many different industries under one roof, with courses on offer to upskill employees to install and maintain green energy, including:
- Air Source Heat Pumps Installation
- Dual Fuel Smart Meter Installation
- Solar Photovoltaic Panel Installation
- 18th Edition Course
- Inspection & Testing
- Wind Turbine Installation
- EV Charging Point Installation
- External Wall Insulation
- Smart Home Programming System
- Cavity Wall Insulation Extraction
To learn more about the courses on offer, visit The Green Skills Academy Website.
