In past articles, we have addressed the UK skills shortage and offered some ideas of the types of part time roles you could train for so that your skills are in demand, giving yourself the best chance of landing that dream job.
In 2025, the UK is also finding itself with another skills shortage.
As the nation strives to meet its ambitious target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the shape of the labour market is changing.
Across every industry – from energy and construction to finance, technology and the creative sectors – employers are recognising the importance of sustainability and seeking out workers who can help them reduce their environmental impact.
For those of you looking to enter – or re-enter – the workforce, this shift represents both a challenge and a tremendous opportunity.
Developing Green skills – the knowledge, abilities and mindsets that support environmental sustainability – is going to be crucial for future employability and long-term career success.
What Are Green Skills?
Before we continue, let’s first take a look at what Green skills are.
Green skills are the technical knowledge, transferable abilities and behaviours that enable you to contribute to environmental sustainability in your work.
So don’t worry if you don’t want to be a technical expert in a particular area; Green skills range from specialised expertise such as installing renewable energy systems to broader capabilities like sustainable decision-making, resource efficiency and environmental awareness.
The UK government, industry bodies and education providers increasingly recognise Green skills as vital to the country’s future economic growth.
The Green Jobs Delivery Group, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero along with organisations like the Green Jobs Taskforce have all emphasised the need for a skilled, sustainability-minded workforce to support the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
And if you are thinking Green skills are confined to traditional ‘environmental’ roles, well, that is no longer the case. They are becoming relevant across almost every sector.
So whether you have expertise and professional qualifications as an engineer, designer, teacher or data analyst – or you are looking for entry level roles – developing sustainability-focused skills will make you more adaptable and valuable in the modern UK job market.
The Emerging Green Economy In The UK
One reason to have Green skills development in mind is because the UK’s Green economy is expanding so rapidly.
According to the Office for National Statistics, employment in low-carbon and renewable energy sectors has been steadily increasing with hundreds of thousands of roles already linked to environmental sustainability.
And by 2030, the UK could see up to 1.2 million Green jobs, from wind turbine technicians to environmental consultants and sustainability analysts.
Some of the fastest-growing areas for Green jobs include:
- Renewable energy: Offshore wind, solar power and hydrogen technologies.
- Sustainable construction: Green building design, energy-efficient materials and retrofitting.
- Circular economy: Waste reduction, recycling and product life extension.
- Sustainable transport: Electric vehicle infrastructure and logistics optimisation.
- Nature and land management: Reforestation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable farming.
- Digital innovation: Using data, AI and smart technologies to reduce emissions and improve efficiency.
You have probably already come across some of these areas in your daily life – especially recycling and waste reduction, for example.
What Are The Core Green Skills You Should Develop?
While each industry has specific Green skill requirements where experience and professional qualifications will be key, the good news is that you are also going to be able to make use of your transferable skills when it comes to entry level roles.
Develop Your General Understanding
Understanding where we fit into this chain and having an awareness of the relationship between human activities and environmental outcomes is essential.
Take your time to browse online and read publications so that you start to build a general knowledge base around the areas of climate science, biodiversity, waste management and sustainable resource use.
You can gain an understanding of how a design choice impacts energy consumption or how supply chain decisions influence carbon footprints.
When you are applying for part time jobs, employers increasingly value those of you who can take this holistic approach to problem-solving.
Energy Awareness & Efficiency
Even just in your daily life at home, you probably demonstrate energy awareness and efficiency.
Think about your understanding of how to reduce energy consumption and what renewable technologies or designs for efficiency have been added to your home. This understanding can be central to Green employment.
Even if you are applying for part time office jobs that are not necessarily directly involved in the Green economy, you can make a contribution by making suggestions about how they can reduce their energy footprint through behaviour change and policy implementation.
Reducing Waste
Do you have an understanding about keeping materials in use for as long as possible?
Green skills in this area include waste reduction, product life-cycle analysis, repair and reuse strategies and sustainable sourcing.
Employers increasingly seek staff who can help reduce material consumption and rethink how products are made and disposed of. From fashion to technology, circular thinking is reshaping entire industries.
Spreading The Word
Sustainability initiatives depend on collaboration and engagement. Work effectively in teams to communicate goals and influence and educate others about Green practises.
Innovation & Problem-Solving
Sustainability challenges require creative solutions. Do you think you can improve the way things operate within a workplace or can you reimagine products so that they are more Green?
What Are The Sector-Specific Green Skills Pathways?
While general Green competencies are valuable across the board, if you have professional or specialist skills, these can be tailored towards a more Green pathway and you can still chase your career goals.
Renewable Energy & Engineering
Skills in mechanical and electrical engineering, wind and solar technology, hydrogen systems and battery storage are essential.
The UK’s expansion of offshore wind farms, for example, requires technicians, engineers and project managers skilled in sustainable energy production and maintenance.
Construction & The Built Environment
The construction sector is undergoing a Green transformation. Key skills include retrofit techniques, low-carbon design, energy modelling and sustainable materials management.
The government’s focus on improving the energy efficiency of housing stock through initiatives like the Home Upgrade Grant creates demand for skilled workers in insulation, heating technology and smart home systems.
Agriculture & Land Management
If you have a background in – or an interest in – agriculture, you can shift your focus towards sustainable farming methods, soil health, agroecology and biodiversity conservation.
Emerging roles include environmental consultants, carbon assessors and regenerative farming specialists.
Transport & Logistics
As the UK transitions toward electric and low-emission vehicles, skills in EV infrastructure, battery technology, logistics optimisation and sustainable supply chain management are in demand.
Creative Industries & Education
Sustainability also influences media, fashion and education. If you are someone who works in the creative industries, you can use storytelling, design and communication to drive environmental awareness.
Green skills in sustainable design, ethical sourcing and eco-branding are increasingly valuable in these sectors as shoppers and consumers increasingly look to buy sustainable and ethically sourced goods.
How Can You Develop Green Skills? Education, Training & Experience
There are lots of routes you can take so that you can develop your Green skills and give yourself the best chance of landing that dream part time job.
Let’s take a look at some of the routes you can consider from formal education pathways to more informal routes where you can develop specific and transferable Green skills in your own time.
Green Apprenticeships & Vocational Routes
There are lots of Apprenticeships out there where you can develop your Green skills both directly and indirectly.
Apprenticeships in low-carbon energy, engineering, environmental management and construction provide hands-on experience whilst earning a nationally recognised qualification.
Younger people can also look at T Level pathways which are designed to help you gain technical skills relevant to certain industries. Take a look at sustainable industries which will drill down in Green areas.
Higher Education & Research
There are lots of you out there who choose to do part time jobs so that you can retrain or fund yourself in further studies in particular fields.
If you want to really develop your knowledge in Green areas, there are many courses offered by universities up to degree level and beyond. Focus on sustainability, environmental science, climate policy, renewable energy engineering and sustainable business.
You might also be able to find research opportunities so that you can contribute directly to innovation in sustainability technologies and policy.
Online Learning
If you want to further your knowledge in the field of Green but a full time university course is not an option for you, there are, of course, lots of options for flexible online learning that you can fit around your other commitments.
Take a look at short, targeted courses that won’t take up lots of your time and/or shorter, flexible courses where you can earn certificates or diplomas in specific areas. These can then be used to help you build your Green career and try jobs in new industries.
Volunteering & Community Projects
We have written in the past about the benefits of volunteering – of which there are many.
And if you want to be involved in Green projects and develop your skills and awareness, well, this is a field that lends itself perfectly to getting involved with volunteering and community projects.
Volunteering in environmental initiatives like conservation projects, recycling schemes or local Green campaigns allows you, amongst other benefits, to gain practical experience, teamwork skills and a stronger understanding of sustainability in action.
These experiences are also highly valued by employers who are looking for candidates with real-world environmental engagement.
But it is not all about the work experience. Volunteering and getting involved in your local community projects can help you to make friends and also give you the satisfaction that you are doing something for the good of your local community – and therefore, the environment as a whole.
The Role of Employers & Government
Whilst you can take the initiative to build Green skills yourself, because of the importance and growth of this area, employers, training institutions and the government are also creating supportive pathways to help people develop their skills and knowledge.
This is not just in industries that are specifically related to the environment. It is also about employers creating policies and making sure staff have an awareness and understanding about how any job can contribute to Green objectives.
This approach creates a culture of sustainability and ensures that Green skills are mainstreamed across the economy.
If you are looking for Green jobs – or if you are looking for part time work so that you can fund studies or time to learn more about the Green economy – take a look at current part time vacancies around the UK to see if there is something to suit you.