Recently the City of Liverpool College hosted a diverse panel of business and political leaders. Chaired by Michael Taylor, editor of Business Desk North West, the roundtable discussion looked at how Liverpool can build a workforce that will drive job and career opportunities as part of a green economic transformation.
The event was another great way for the College to continue leading the conversation about green skills. Our specialist heat pump training centre, launched last year by City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, offers training and support for students aspiring to join the industry for the first time and for existing heating engineers keen to upskill and learn more about the new technologies.
Starting the discussion, Neil Borg-Olivier, the College’s Vice-Principal for Curriculum Development, made it clear that we have a key role to play in helping the city region meet its targets. He outlined how we must be ready to change curriculums of study, if the demand for different skills overtakes what was considered essential at the time of the curriculum’s formation.
Matt Breakwell from Kimpton passionately defended a younger generation that is crying out for opportunities. Companies like his employer make sure such people are given them, as 7% of their 100-person workforce are on apprenticeship programmes.
The need for local talent was put forward by James Cannon from Enspec Power, who noted how senior specialist power systems engineers are often currently recruited from the Asian sub-continent rather than the North West.
The leader of Sefton Borough Council, Councillor Marion Atkinson, underlined how companies looking to invest in the city region look for the presence of skills, but also gender diversity, before committing to projects. This latter point was contested by Lisa Cooke of MCS, who proudly told of her company’s 61% female representation in what is traditionally a male-dominated sector, citing that behaviours and an appetite to learn are just as important as academic qualifications.
Jane Gaston, CEO of Net Zero North West, underlined the commitment to help traditional industries transition through a coordinated skills approach, whereas Chris capes from Peel Waters took a broader view and said that it wasn’t just green skills that Liverpool needed, but clear career progression that excites candidates and retains them.
The net zero target of 2050 is the work that will occupy a generation, according to Colin Salmon from the College. He added that while immediate solutions are necessary, so is a strategic, long-term approach to talent development.
This is something that is happening in the primary schools of Merseyside, as Rachel Newman from the Knowledge Quarter revealed. She described how the workforce of tomorrow is told exciting stories about jobs in their home city rather than the capital.
The panel’s verdict was unequivocal: the economic future of Liverpool depends on breaking down institutional silos, being transparent on how to progress in a chosen career and, perhaps most vitally, to change how green careers are seen and promoted. As Matt Breakwell said, “it’s time to make engineering sexy!”
While our city’s targets are ambitious, there is a hunger for collaboration in Liverpool that will see the city continue as a big name in green skills. Its profile in this area will only increase as innovation is placed squarely at the heart of the agenda.
For course enquiries, please get in touch with us by calling 0151 252 3000 or by email on enquiry@liv-coll.ac.uk. For business and partnership enquires, email colcbusiness@liv-coll.ac.uk.
