Some six sub sectors were identified as having business and employment growth. These include; renewable energies; efficient energy use and management; water and wasre water treatment; waste management, recovery and recycling; environmental and consultancy services; green ICT applications and software.
The implementation of the report's findings will help ensure that education and training provision is optimally aligned to the future skills needs of business in the sector and assist people in making informed decisions around potential employment opportunities and their career choices.
This is a sector with employment growth potential at all occupational and skills levels - including operatives, skilled workers, sales and office staff, technicians, managers, professional engineers, scientists and business professionals. Companies and regions that become leaders in green innovation, design and technology are more likely to retain and create new job opportunities.
Key findings from the report
- The sector employs over 18,000 people with a market size estimated at £3.05 billion
- There are strong global and domestic drivers of growth
- It is anticipated that the global spending for environmental goods and services could reach £1900 billion by 2020!
- A key challenge for Irish indigenous companies will be to increase the value of their exports.
- Job opportunities would arise within all skills levels
- Key skills requirements include; core business and engineering and ICT skills
- Some 60% of the companies surveyed stated that they had current skills gaps.
- There was a range of generic competencies important across all occupations: entrepreneurship; maths proficiency; commercial awareness; foreign language, finance, marketing, creativity and innovation, problem solving and communicaion skills.
- Improving the alignment and coherence of current education and training provision.
- The development of key export skills requirements
- Build Engineering and business skills development
- Meet the strong demand for technicians/skilled workers for the planned installation of domestic and commercial water meters, anaerobic digestion etc
- Increase structured graduate placement and internship opportunities
- Communicate the professional career opportunities on offer within the sector, particularly to attract more women into engineering disciplines
- Enhance the mathematical proficiency of those in the workforce
The ful report is available read more and read more
The STEM conference on Engineering in the SW College, Dungannon, Wednesday 2nd March, includes in its programme a focus on Green courses in FE/HE. To find out about what's on offer read more
Drinks businesses report great results despite depressed economic outlook
This is proving the old adage that the industry is recession-proof.
A business survey has just reported five established drinks businesses with growth of over 20% These include Glenfiddich, Britvic and AG Barr. Hence the sector is in robust health and it is also the largest manufacturing sector in the UK.
So what are job prospects like?
According to the drinks industry recruitment industry experts website read more the prospects are good! Despite the economic gloom there are sectors out there which are buoyant and have career opportunities and the drinks sector is one of them.
Certainly the wine industry and working with alcohol in general can offer those with the right skills a leg up the career ladder and a chance to change the course of their lives.
Demand is particularly high for engineers and logistics experts. There ar also openings for sommeliers, graduate buyers, marketers, sales people and quality control managers.
You don't necessarily have had to have experience in the trade beforehand. Drink industry career opportunities continue to include roles that involve travel and even overseas postings, and with more companies focused on sustainability those seeking jobs in line with lifestyle choices can find environmentally friendly companies to work for.
Identikit' high streets and urban sprawl are out and sustainability
New framework is unveiled for creating a sustainable urban business environment. British workers and businesses want the cities of tomorrow to be more local, individual and sustainable according to a major new report unveiled this week. Future generations will shun generic high streets, long commutes and demand 'walkable' city centres, the research warns, prompting the rise of more localised, digitally connected and energy efficient business environments.
Created by economic development company, Opportunity Peterborough, and sustainable development charity, Forum for the Future, the new study - "Sustainable Urban Enterprise: creating the right business environment in cities" - found that:
• Factors such as access to low carbon energy and 'green' buildings in cities are receiving an increasing amount of attention from business;
• Future workers will choose to work locally or remotely, in preference to long commutes
• Communities will look for more 'localised' services and working environments and shun 'identikit' high streets
• Businesses believe urban mobility (transport and information technology links), and a clean, green and culturally vibrant city centre that provides high quality of life for employees will be the most important factors in creating a desirable business location in the future.
• Traffic issues are the most prominent frustration with current business locations, with one in three business leaders citing poor public transport, traffic congestion or commuting times as their biggest gripe.
The report outlines a framework, which aims to help budding business capitals create a sustainable, thriving business environment:
• Proximity to market - better connectivity, as well as closer physical distance
• Communications links - remote and virtual access as well as low-carbon transport options
• Access to resources - lower consumption, local supply chains and higher quality of life
• Provision of utilities - independent supply streams and local energy generation
• Land/space premises - flexible and resource- and energy-efficient workspaces
• Access to talent - more green skills and green jobs
• Attractiveness of place - cities designed for people, not cars
• Government incentives - big infrastructure investments combined with small-scale community planning
According to Neil Darwin from Opportunity Peterborough:
"Future cities will be built on the twin foundations of localism and sustainability. This report shows that while on the one hand tomorrow's city-dwellers are going to be much more mobile, web-enabled, work more flexibly and often in 'green-collar' professions, on the other, the cities in which they work will be competing harder for dwindling resources amidst ever more severe climate threats. As a result, the places where we will want to live and work in the future will need to become more local, accessible and environmentally-minded.
"It's clear that the future heirs to sustainable enterprise in the UK are not going to be the big urban megacities of old, but smaller, more adaptable regional cities that have dynamic city centres and sustainable infrastructure, buildings and transport links.
"While enterprise is increasingly global in outlook, we are seeing local communities and resources at the heart of the day to day working of businesses. Gone are the days of generic high streets, rigid work spaces and long commutes. Which is good news for cities like Peterborough, which are uniquely placed to meet the localism and sustainability challenges highlighted in this report and have put the environment right at the heart of their urban regeneration."
According to Ivana Gazibara from Forum for the Future:
""Sustainability is becoming a key factor within business. Forward-thinking businesses will anticipate emerging trends and incorporate sustainability into their core strategy, including decisions about business location."
"Cities will also have to anticipate and adapt to changing demands brought about by massive challenges like climate change, resource scarcity and population growth. At the same time they need to be innovative enough to support existing businesses and attract new ones.
"For example, our research suggests that localised, smaller working spaces where groups of collaborating workers can get together and connect with other teams virtually are likely to become more common in cities. 'Green' buildings are becoming increasingly desirable amongst companies, whilst workspaces that remove the need for a long and expensive commute are becoming more popular with employees. Cities that act on trends like this quickly will be best placed to attract top businesses.
"Ultimately, sustainability is no longer the sole preserve of 'megacities'. Second- and third-tier cities have huge potential to nurture innovation and stimulate commercial opportunity, based on smart, sustainable policies. Those cities that implement such policies will be highly attractive to the businesses of the future."
For a full copy of the Sustainable Urban Enterprise report read more
Never been a better time to gain from green economy
There has never been a better time for Northern Ireland entrepreneurs to capitalise on the green economy
He went on to say that NI should look to better its green potentials if it is to improve its bottom line. The opportunities opening up in the clean and green areas are quite unlike anything seen before and NI has the chance to be a major player on a lucrative world stage. There are many people in NI with fantastic ideas, with an incredible range of support, training and expertise available in the colleges. SW College in particular has developed a range of industry-focused foundation degrees in partnership with QUB and UU. For more information on these courses read more
New research: WHO you know, not WHAT you know, is key asset for job hunters
Research from Edinburgh Napier University's Employment Research Institute has proved the age-old theory that it's 'who you know' that is important for job hunters.
The new research into the power of social networks reveals that the more employed friends you have, the higher their job status, and the stronger your ties with them, the more likely you are to get a job yourself.
The study indicates that younger people (under 50) in employment have a significantly higher number of contacts and more regular interaction within their social networks compared to the 50+ age group. This offers a wider diversity, strength and quality of contacts.
Conversely, the findings show that people over 50, who generally have fewer qualifications, rely more heavily on their smaller social networks and 'word of mouth' to get back into or remain in employment.
For the younger generation, the number of people they know overall is more important than whether those they know are employed or hold senior positions. Unemployed younger people also have much smaller long-term social networks than those in work and relatively fewer contacts who were in employment.
Dr Kaberi Gayen, Visiting Researcher at Edinburgh Napier Employment Research Institute and co-author of the research said: "With tight budgets and a tough economy, there are less jobs being advertised and organisations are increasingly seeking the most cost effective recruitment methods. The 'who you know' theory, is as important as ever in the job hunt. Younger people tend to have wider networks which could be due to their greater use of new information and communication technologies.
"Over 50s are the age group that is most likely to be out of employment. With the current ageing population it is especially important to reduce barriers to older workers' employment. With employers using social networks in hiring, unemployed older people may remain out of this searching process and thereby out of work. Employment agencies, including Job Centre Plus, have a responsibility to support and introduce older unemployed people to job opportunities."
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 30 Nos. 5/6, 2010, pp. 219-238, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 0144-333X, DOI 10.1108/01443331011054208
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