For Further Education colleges, this is no longer a niche opportunity — it’s a national mission. And the clock is ticking.
The Ambition: Big Numbers, Bold Promises
In the government’s Net Zero Strategy, the goals are crystal clear:
- 440,000 jobs in net zero sectors by 2030
- 190,000 of those by 2025 — that’s now
- Up to £90 billion of private investment leveraged by 2030
From retrofitting old homes to rolling out EV infrastructure, the UK needs tens of thousands of skilled workers across energy, construction, transport and tech. In theory, the FE sector is at the heart of that delivery.
The Reality: Colleges Are Catching Up – But Slowly
The latest ONS data (July 2025) shows there were 690,900 green jobs in the UK in 2023 — up 35% since 2015. Green job ads are rising fast too, especially in construction and renewables.
But here’s the problem: very few learners are currently enrolled on explicitly green programmes.
Take adult learners in the West Midlands: just 56 signed up last year to a course in carbon awareness and energy management. Nationally, green apprenticeships remain a fraction of total provision. And fewer than 1 in 10 workers receive green skills training at work.
Meanwhile, employers are crying out for people who can install heat pumps, maintain wind turbines, or build sustainable homes — and they’re struggling to find them.
The Funding Is There – But So Are the Gaps
In fairness, the government has begun backing the sector with serious money. A £302 million capital upgrade fund is now supporting colleges to expand and modernise their facilities. Several major institutions are developing green tech workshops, EV labs and net-zero training hubs.
Institutes of Technology are also expanding — with programmes in sustainable engineering, clean power, and construction tech.
But the patchiness remains. Provision is uneven across regions, and many colleges still lack the facilities or staff to deliver truly hands-on, industry-relevant green training. And with no central data tracking how many green learners there actually are, it’s hard to measure progress.
What FE Needs to Do — Now
FE colleges are the engine room of the UK’s green skills revolution. But to deliver, they’ll need to move fast — and with focus. Here’s what the sector must prioritise:
1. Specialise to local demand
Use LSIPs and employer partnerships to align provision with local green sector needs — whether that’s offshore wind in Grimsby, heat pumps in Bristol, or EV tech in the Midlands.
2. Invest in people and kit
It’s not just buildings — it’s trainers. Colleges must attract and retain industry-standard tutors in green trades and technologies, from electricians to retrofit assessors.
3. Track and showcase impact
Colleges should start collecting and publishing their own Green Skills enrolment, completion and job progression data. The sector can’t manage what it doesn’t measure.
4. Make green careers visible
Too many learners still think “green jobs” mean climate science or tree planting. Colleges must raise awareness of high-paid, hands-on roles in solar, construction, hydrogen, and tech.
5. Embed sustainability across the board
From business to beauty therapy, all courses should integrate sustainability — not just specialist pathways. Green Skills aren’t a silo; they’re the future of work.
Conclusion: No Time for Half Measures
The government says it wants a clean energy workforce, a net zero economy, and millions of new green jobs. The money’s starting to flow, the policy is in place — but the skills system isn’t yet at full speed.
FE colleges are crucial to delivering this transition. But they need to be empowered — and held to account — to meet the scale and urgency of the task.
Green jobs are coming, whether we’re ready or not. The question is: will FE lead the way — or be left behind?
We can help!
Green Skills Solutions has a suite of City and Guilds Assured Training programmes, including: Understanding Decarbonisation; Smart Home Heating Systems; Understanding Wind Technology; Introduction to Electric Vehicles and Charge Points and Understanding Heat Pump Technology. We can also work with you to create bespoke programmes.
We are proud to partner with Sabre Rigs, who can provide the physical resources and equipment to support your delivery needs.
Contact us today to learn more or visit “Team Sabre” at the Association of Colleges Conference on 18th-19th November in Birmingham at Stand F16.
Contact Information
For more details on programme delivery, partnership opportunities, or any additional inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you and exploring potential collaborations:
Telephone: 07468 759 512
Green Skills Solutions Website
hello@green-skills-solutions.co.uk
Telephone: 07468 759 512
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