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An introduction to Green Careers

Slides by ISEP, the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals

Name, date

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Opening questions

  1. Are you are concerned about the planet?

  • Can anybody describe some of the problems that we are facing?

  • Can you name any green jobs?

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What’s in this presentation?

Part 1: Introducing sustainability and the environment

  • What do we mean by sustainability?
  • Sustainable development goals
  • Explanation of key terms

Part 2: Green jobs and skills

  • Overview and examples of green jobs
  • Subjects and career routes

Part 3: Introducing the Green Careers Hub

  • Benefits of green jobs and myth-busters
  • Job spotlights and videos

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Part 1: Introducing sustainability & the environment

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What do we mean when we talk about sustainability?

Climate change

Social sustainability

Plastic pollution

Sustainable resource use

Biodiversity loss and natural restoration

Population growth

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Key terms

Environment:

  • The environment is the surroundings and the conditions of a person, plant, or animal. It is where they live or operate.
  • Lots of complicated factors work together to create any given environment. They are physical and chemical, and the environment is also shaped by other living organisms. The environment changes the form and survival of individual living things and ecological communities.

Social sustainability:

  • Social sustainability means creating a world where people can live happy, healthy lives now and in the future. It’s about making sure everyone has what they need—like safe and clean environment, good mental and physical health and fair opportunities while protecting nature for future generations to enjoy.

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Key terms continued

Net zero:

  • When the amount of greenhouse gas produced is equal to the amount removed from the atmosphere, we have net zero. Amounts produced and amounts removed must be balanced carefully. We reach net zero when the amount of greenhouse gas added is no more than the amount taken away. Individuals, companies, and countries can all aim to reach their own net zero.

Renewable energy:

  • Renewable energy is energy that comes from a source that won’t run out. They are natural and self-replenishing, and usually have a low- or zero-carbon footprint. Examples of renewable energy sources include wind power and solar power.

Carbon footprint:

  • A carbon footprint is a measurement of greenhouse gases (GHG) usually quoted in kilograms or tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent – kgCO2e or tCO2e. GHGs include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and a variety of F-Gases.

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Key terms continued

Biodiversity:

  • Biodiversity refers to the variety of life. The UN Convention on Biological Diversity provides the following definition: “‘Biological diversity’ means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, interalia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

Circular economy:

  • A Circular Economy is an alternative to a traditional linear economy (make, use, dispose) in which we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them whilst in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life. This presents an obvious solution to the problem of resource scarcity.

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Activity: test your knowledge

  1. Can you name one of the top 5 wasted foods in the UK?

  • True or false: plastic waste stayed stable between the years 2000 and 2019 globally.

  • True or false: cyber espionage and warfare is considered a greater risk than nature resource shortages and biodiversity loss.

  • What has higher water use: an average person over one year or producing a single T-shirt?

  • Do you think that ecosystems can grow back after destruction (Y/N)?

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Part 2: Green jobs and skills

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Green Skills

Technical knowledge:

    • Specialised and specific
    • Often required to perform certain tasks or jobs
    • Often learnt through formal study or training but can also be learnt on the job
    • Examples: understanding of health and safety, environmental auditing, tree harvesting or installing an electric vehicle charge point.

Transferable skills:

    • Skills that can be applied across a wide range of jobs
    • Often referred to as soft skills or employability skills
    • Can be applied through formal study and training but are often developed throughout a career
    • Examples include strategic thinking, project management, decision-making, leadership, and effective communication. 

Refers to the technical skills, knowledge, behaviours, and capabilities required to directly and indirectly tackle the environmental challenges we face and unlock new opportunities for growth​.

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Examples of typical green jobs

Sustainable Procurement Manager

Eco-design Engineer

Biodiversity Officer

Sustainability Advisor/Consultant

  • Audits / inspections to ensure actions a in accordance with corporate sustainability policies
  • Considering environmental factors in design of products e.g. material choices
  • Ensuring that the purchase of goods and services takes sustainability into account
  • Helping to protect and enhance nature and wildlife through surveys of habitats and species

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More examples you might not think about

Electricians are responsible for installing electric vehicle charge points.

An events organiser will need to think about how they can make events more sustainable e.g. considering areas such as packaging, staging materials and visitor travel. 

Designers need to think about the materials they use – thinking about the circular economy.

Scientists are continuously researching and testing new materials and solutions for climate change. 

Lawyers might want to specialise in environmental law – working on the frameworks responsible for protecting our planet.

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Every job needs to be a green job

Food & drink

Sport

Marketing

  • Materials
  • Story telling & messaging
  • Methods of communication
  • Events

  • Ingredients
  • Food waste
  • Energy use
  • Working local

  • Events
  • Transport
  • Advertising
  • Materials
  • Food & drink

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Activity: Greening a job

In your groups, choose one of the jobs below and think about how they could be greener, or incorporate sustainability.

    • Local town mayor
    • World top 10 tennis player
    • Scientist
    • Electrician
    • Chef
    • Construction worker
    • Organiser of large events
    • Politician
    • Fashion designer
    • Musician
    • Owner of an online IT business
    • Influencer

Working in groups of 4-6, use the paper to write out your ideas, thinking about the skills required, who they work with, and the types of projects they might be involved with.

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Sustainability cuts across all subject areas

Sport

Sciences

Art

Geography

Social studies

Maths

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Career Entry Routes

Apprenticeships

Example courses:

  • Environmental Practitioner Degree – Level 6
  • Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner - Level 4
  • Countryside worker – Level 2
  • Low Carbon Heating Technician - Level 3

University degrees

Example courses:

  • BSc Environmental Health
  • BSc (Hons) Environmental Science 
  • BSc Sustainability and Environmental Management
  • BA Hons Environment and Planning

Other subjects such as business, finance and construction could also feature elements of sustainability. Search the UCAS website for more info!

Volunteering

View the Apprenticeships page on the Green Careers Hub:

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Part 3: The Green Careers Hub

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What is the Green Careers Hub?

A website designed to showcase information and resources about green jobs, skills and careers�

The mission is a world in which all jobs are greener.

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Benefits of a green job

Sense of purpose

Growing demand

Higher salaries

Variety of roles

  • Flexibility
  • Jobs across the whole of the UK
  • Technical and academic routes

  • According to LinkedIn, “Job seekers with green skills or titles see a 54.6% higher hiring rate than the workforce overall”

  • Supporting the planet for future generations
  • Playing your part in the future green economy

  • Research shows that green jobs see strong salary growth
  • A report in 2025 showed that the average annual wage was higher in net zero businesses.

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Job spotlight: Forestry Worker

Routes to entry:

  • T Level / Level 1 or 2 course
  • an apprenticeship
  • volunteering
  • applying directly

Example tasks:

  • clear undergrowth and cut down trees
  • plant tree seedlings
  • put up fences, gates and public notices
  • maintain equipment, drainage systems and car parks
  • protect the forest from pests

Note: information taken from the Lantra careers website: https://www.lantra.co.uk/careers/JobProfile/JobProfileDetails/66

Average salary: £18.5k - £25k per year

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Job spotlight: Carbon Accountant

Routes to entry:

  • A degree is desirable
  • Degree-level apprenticeships
  • Specific training courses

Example tasks:

  • Conducting daily data analysis 
  • Researching new environmental, climate and business legislation 
  • Writing reports to comply with relevant standards
  • Creating value chain maps 
  • Attending project meetings

Note: information taken from

Average salary: £20k - £75k (in a senior role) per year

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Job spotlight: Electrician

Note: information taken from Electrical Contractors Association via the Green Careers Hub: https://www.greencareershub.com/find-your-green-role/job-profiles/electrician/

Routes to entry:

  • T-levels
  • full-time education
  • an apprenticeship
  • training / assessment
  • applying directly

Example tasks:

  • Install and maintain equipment / components, including green technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, heat pumps.
  • Use a range of tools and materials,
  • Plan and install domestic and/or commercial and industrial electrical and electronic systems
  • Inspect and test domestic installations

Average salary: £10k (apprenticeship) - £50k (experienced) per year

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Job spotlight: Ecologist

Routes to entry:

  • Degree-level study is typical
  • Apprenticeships or training courses
  • Work experience is valuable

Example tasks:

  • Fieldwork and surveys
  • Identification of plant species and animals
  • Working on habitat creation plans
  • Using technology to model the effects of changing environments and impacts

Note: information taken from Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) via the Green Careers Hub

Average salary: £25k - £40k per year

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Green job myth-busters

1. Green jobs are all spent working outdoors

    • FALSE – green jobs can be part-time, seasonal, office-based, traveling around sites or working outside.

2. There aren’t any green jobs in my area

    • FALSE – there are jobs up and down the country, and new projects springing up all the time.

3. You need a degree for a green job

    • FALSE – there are jobs at all levels.

4. I can’t use my existing skills for a green job

    • FALSE – there are many transferable skills that you can bring across from a previous role.

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Greening our heritage: discussion points

  1. Can you think of any local heritage sites near you?
  2. What do you think some of the challenges might be in restoring our historic buildings?
  3. Does working in construction appeal to you, and if so, why?
  4. What subjects at school might help lead to a role in construction, retrofit or restoration?

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Scaling new heights: discussion points

  1. Harry mentions doing bat surveys in the video, why do you think this is important?
  2. How might it differ to work in a small vs. larger organisation?
  3. Does this role appeal to you, and if so, why?
  4. What subjects at school might help lead to a role as an Ecologist?

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Every job is a green job: discussion points

  1. Why might an initiative like Plan Zero be helpful to a business?
  2. What other green jobs might exist at a company like Ovo Energy?
  3. As well as purpose, what other factors can impact your decision on what type of organisation or role you’d like to do in the future?
  4. Does this role appeal to you, and if so, why?
  5. What subjects at school might help lead to a role in marketing?

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Green skills development: discussion points

  1. How does the role of electrician support a better planet for the future?
  2. What transferable skills do you think are needed as an Electrician?
  3. Does this role appeal to you, and if so, why?
  4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of starting your own business?

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Engineering a sustainable future and Engineering net zero: discussion points

  1. Why is an electrically charged fleet of trams better for the planet than the diesel engines?
  2. How might the team at Canal & River Trust need to think about wildlife in the area?
  3. What do you think are some of the environmental impacts that might need to be considered for either of these projects?
  4. Does this role appeal to you, and if so, why?
  5. Has anything about civil engineering surprised you?
  6. What subjects at school might help lead to a role in Civil Engineering?

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Watch our video case studies

Browse our full job profiles

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Questions?

info@greencareershub.com