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"Green Collar" Engineering jobs set to double as UK Environmental skills shortage takes hold - Dudley Child Executive Recruitment

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"Green Collar" Engineering jobs set to double as UK Environmental skills shortage takes hold

Environmental News 30 Sep 2008

Research recently compiled by The ICM and commissioned by The UK Engineering & Environmental Consultancy, Royal Haskoning, indicates that the rising demand for environmental expertise, or “green collar” workers, is likely to result in a skills shortage effecting many Manufacturing and Engineering sectors.  Management Board member for Royal Haskoning, Henry Rowe, said: “As a country we are steadily recognising the need for “green” products, services and skills, but companies are failing to take action.”

He followed on to say that a third of companies involved in either the construction or energy sectors had no environmental policy to speak of and a further third had no immediate plans to implement one.   The survey also indicates that 30% of companies are currently looking to increase their green collar skills in order to satisfy government requirements, 27% due to internal policy and 21% because of pressure from customers.  37% of respondents, however, indicated that they were concerned about their ability to meet government criteria and satisfy the green-skills demand in the future.

The findings indicate an element of apprehension and uncertainty for many organisations, particularly those that are most likely to come under close government scrutiny such as Manufacturing and Engineering businesses. For the jobseeker however, this is clearly good news. John Hutton (Business Secretary) for instance, has suggested that one million green collar jobs could be created over the coming years as other sectors such as manufacturing and engineering follow the lead of construction and energy companies, 39% of which have already addressed the green collar requirement issue.

Jim Murphy, British Minister for Europe, stated: “Countries that take early action in developing green technology will have a competitive advantage as this boom industry grows in the future. The government is committed to making sure the UK is ahead of the pack – in the future we want an economy offering a mix of good blue collar jobs, good white collar jobs and good green collar jobs.”

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