New courses - new opportunities!!

I feel it appropriate in this the last Blog for 2009/10 that I pinpoint a number of new job opportunities that have come to my attention over the past month and which might provide some discussion with sixth form students in the new term.


The workforce goes green.

The world has really moved on since 'green jobs' were largely low paid, worthy occupations on the edges of recycling and litter reduction. Now experts in energy reduction, sustainability and conservation are sought after and can command impressive salaries. New courses have emerged to address the needs of a growing 'green' agenda. Young people should be encouraged to investigate the range of new 'job' opportunities emanating from a more environmentally aware world! For example, did you realise that a senior solar consultant in a leading accountancy firm can command a salary in excess of £120k a year plus bonus and benefits.
The work?-  H/she offers taxation and financial structuring advice to global solar project developers and prepares business plans for new entrants. And what of the environmental and sustainability project manager who could earn anything between £60k and £80k? or an energy and environmental manager at £55k?

Two factors are working to swell the demand for people with green credentials - the climate of public opinion that can give environmentally friendly companies an edge in the marketplace and recruitment, and government regulations in the form of the Carbon Reduction Commitment, now renamed the CRC Energy Efficient Scheme.

The CRC is the UK's first mandatory carbon trading scheme which officially begins this month. Companies are looking to hire professionals to make their businesses more environment friendly.

There is evidence that during the recession some experienced professionals decided that this was an opportunity for a career change, with movement from construction and engineering and into the environmental and renewable energy sector.

With more and more media and political focus on 'green' jobs one is seeing the beginning of a surge in this sector!

Universities report a surge for postgraduate 'green' courses such as the MSc in Water, Energy and the Environment in Liverpool John Moores or the suite of sustainability Masters degrees offered by the School of Earth and the Environment at Leeds University. The opportunities for young graduates are diverse; from the environmental, social and economic impact of big schemes such as the 2012 Olympics to energy reduction, waste management and sustainability in big companies, local authorities and Government departments.
Lesson idea

Why not get your Year 13 students to research 'green' course development both at local and national colleges of FE and HE, checking on the first destinations of recent graduates from those courses.


A debate topic might involve questioning whether it is best to graduate in a general discipline first such as chemistry, physics, engineering etc before Mastering in a post graduate environmental discipline or take an undergraduate course in a new 'green' option?


Compile a list of past pupils currently working in the 'green' sector and invite them in to speak to Year10 (subject choice) pupils


Brussels wants you to apply
 
In a recent article in the Independent (29th April 2010) Caitlin Davies writes that if you're a graduate with an interest in languages and policy, then you should consider crossing the Channel in the direction of Brussels. At a time when job opportunities for graduates appear bleak in the UK, the European Union wants new recruits to work in the 'capital' of Europe where there are scores of other young graduates of different nationalities and many social and cultural attractions to help make up your mind.
 
Many UK graduates don't consider working abroad, yet as EU citizens, there is no need to worry about visas or work permits. In addition, the EU has completely revamped its Europe-wide selection procedure.  No longer will young graduates have to take the feared test, which required a broad knowledge of EU matters.Testing is now geared to recruit on future potential!
 
The jobs on offer are split into administrators, assistants and linguists.  Take an administrator's role as one example of graduate opportunity. Recruitment is in March each year and the successful applicant could eventually find him/herself involved in policy development or project management.  The job could mean inspecting fishing fleets in member states, developing a scientific research programme, or drafting a decision of the European Court of Justice.  The entry level salary is 4200 euros a month! Property prices are a quarter of what they are in London.

There surely appears to be definite material advantages to living abroad and working for the EU. Why not look a little deeper before committing yourself to UCAS course choices.