Sussex Green Living: Careers that make a difference - why green careers are everyone's business

This November, West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Careers Hub is extending National Green Careers Week throughout the whole month to help young people explore opportunities and understand that green careers are broader than you may think.

We often picture green careers to be focused on renewable energy engineers or environmentalists. But businesses need people who can help them adapt to the changing economy, reduce environmental impact and use resources efficiently. This is why you’ll often find a green thread running through careers in many sectors, including finance, law, technology, food, fashion, construction and marketing.

LinkedIn's latest Global Green Skills Report reveals demand for green skills is growing twice as fast as supply. And it may be surprising to realise that nearly three-quarters of green hires are for jobs that aren’t traditionally seen as green roles.

Introducing green careers to young people

The Careers Hub, which works to connect young people with employers and helps schools bring the world of work into the classroom, is using Green Careers Month to introduce these roles to students who might never have considered them.

Schools have access to a toolkit full of resources such as practical challenges to encourage young people to discover how their interests and abilities could make a difference to the world around them.

Pupils are invited to investigate energy loss in their schools, explore repairing rather than replacing electronics or imagine a future for Shoreham Cement Works. These activities connect classroom learning with real challenges facing local employers and communities.

The toolkit also offers plenty of careers guidance material to help young people understand themselves, explore opportunities and make informed choices about their futures. While the chance to meet employers and try real tasks can open their eyes to possibilities, build ambition and help them see the purpose of what they learn at school.

Sussex is full of opportunities for green careers

The learning continues beyond the classroom, with Sussex providing young people with many examples of the changing economy on their doorstep.

From the South Downs National Park and Knepp’s pioneering nature recovery to the Rampion offshore wind farm. There are many examples of roles that combine caring for our countryside and coast with opportunities in science, engineering, tourism, land management and communications.

Sussex is also home to B-Corps, businesses which are certified against social and environmental standards, another source of real world examples of green roles beyond the expected job titles. World of Books gives pre-owned books another life, while accountancy firm Kreston Reeves shows that responsible business extends into professional services.

Families have an important role to play

Next time you're talking about future careers with a young person, perhaps ask them a different question.

Not just “What job would you like to do?”

But “What do you care about, what are you good at, and how could you use those strengths to make a difference?” And “What sort of world do you want to see?”

The answers may surprise you.

Explore the West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Careers Hub’s Green Careers Month Toolkit to learn more and share with your child’s school.

Guest writer: Sarah Hadwen, West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Careers Hub