Net Zero Skills
OUR AIM: To grow a skilled workforce that will support our net zero challenge.
What does net zero skills mean for your business?
The demand for net zero skills is growing across Wales. These are skills that are needed to help support our journey to Net Zero by 2050. Our economy is changing, and we all need to adapt the way we work to meet these changes – so investing in skills will be a key factor in achieving shared goals.
Investing in this way can have many benefits;
- Reduced energy costs and longer-term efficiencies
- Greater focus on sustainability
- Increased chance of winning new business
- Innovative products and services
- Increased likelihood of securing investment and new contract
- Become more efficient and improve business resilience
- Improve brand image and build customers trust and loyalty
- Set best practice standards for other to follow
- Meet standards and regulations
- Develop a more diverse and agile workforce
Gaining that competitive edge whilst supporting our Net Zero Goals
What support is available to you?
To help you understand the benefits and impacts of investing in training, qualifications and skills for your workforce we have a number of options available, which are tailored to your specific business need.
We understand that growing net zero skills within your business may not be your immediate priority. Due to other priorities or pressures, you may struggle to release staff to attend courses or not know what your options are or the help that is available. We are developing a package of support to help you understand your options to upskill your staff in net zero.
Many of our training programmes and upskilling routes are already supporting skills sets that industry and businesses are calling for. Help and advice is available through all our schemes.
Flexible Skills Programme (FSP)
We have specifically included a Net Zero element in this training programme. Aimed at all employers in Wales who are looking to review their working practices and invest in upskilling their workforce. It provides 50% funding to support a range of Training Topics:
Pre-Approved Training Areas
| Training Topics | Benefits to Business |
|---|---|
|
Renewable Energy, and Heat Generation, including Energy Efficiency and Management |
The need to review and change sources of heat and energy will be a critical factor in helping to reduce carbon emissions as well as business running costs Actions can include;
|
|
Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) |
As above |
|
Fuel switching (away from natural gas and/or other unabated fossil fuels |
As above |
|
Circular Economy, Sustainable Materials and Waste |
Understand the benefits and practicalities of a circular economy approach and on resource efficiency as a way to reduce carbon emissions (and save money) To include;
Free Training & Information A short overview of why the circular economy is available through BSI Group: Executive briefing: a guide for using BS 8001 | BSI (bsigroup.com) Beneficial to organisations and how BS 8001 can help you take steps towards becoming more circular and create direct and indirect value. Aimed at executives, decision-makers and senior managers |
|
Electric Mobility and Transportation |
The shift to the use of electric vehicles will play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions and supporting a greener, cleaner transport sector. To include;
|
|
Agriculture, Forestry, Timber and Land Use |
To help support the shift to Sustainable agricultural practices, agroforestry and carbon sequestration and land use management for carbon mitigation. |
|
Decarbonisation plans and carbon accounting |
Also referred to as Carbon Literacy Training – aimed at reducing carbon footprint and support reporting requirements. Training can support;
|
|
Construction and Retrofitting of Residential Buildings |
Changing the way we build, adapt, heat and run our homes is a crucial element in achieving net zero. Providing skills in a wide range of Construction and Retrofitting techniques will help raise the skills base of existing workforce to deliver the right outcomes for the sector and raise knowledge levels in principles, building standards and competence. |
|
Leadership and Management |
Changes to business practices require a skilled leadership team to drive change and embed new practices and principles. These can include areas such as;
|
Details on how to apply can be found here; Flexible Skills Programme | Business Wales Skills Gateway (gov.wales)
What are the skills and training options available to you now?
If you are looking to expand your workforce, there are many options and routes available.
Skills and Training Programmes in Wales
Delivering a Highly Skilled Workforce for Unemployed Individuals
| Unemployed | Information/ Links |
|---|---|
| Young Person’s Guarantee (YPG) (age 16-24) | Provide support to gain a place in education or training, find a job or become self-employed. Young Person’s Guarantee | Working Wales (gov.wales) |
| ReAct+ (age 20+) | Offers a package of support to help someone who has been made redundant in the last 6 months or an ex-offender/offender serving a community sentence, to get back into work quickly. ReAct Plus | Working Wales (gov.wales) |
| Apprenticeships (age16+) | Gain a recognised qualification and essential skills whilst you work and earn a wage. Apprenticeships | Careers Wales (gov.wales) |
| Communities for work+ |
Provides specialist employment advisory support and intensive mentoring to people underrepresented in the labour market, helping them to secure employment. |
| Job Growths Wales+ (age 16-19) | A training and development programme for 16-19 year olds that gives them the skills, qualifications and experience needed to get a job or further training. Jobs Growth Wales Plus | Working Wales (gov.wales) |
| Adult Community Learning | Provides learning in a range of courses within the local community for Adults.(Local Authority websites) |
| Further Education (post 16) | Further Education in Wales post 16 which provide part and fulltime courses these include colleges and sixth forms |
| Higher Education (post 18) | Courses and qualifications provided by universities such as diplomas, foundation degrees and bachelor degrees. |
Delivering a Highly Skilled Workforce for Employed Individuals
| Employed | Information/ Links |
|---|---|
| Personal Learning Accounts (PLA) (age 19) | Provide funding for individuals to study fully funded courses part-time and flexible courses whilst working. Personal Learning Accounts | Careers Wales (gov.wales) |
| ReAct+ (age 20+) | Offers a package of support to help someone who is under a formal notice of redundancy, to help them get back into work quickly. ReAct Plus | Working Wales (gov.wales) |
| Apprenticeships (age16+) | Gain a recognised qualification and essential skills whilst you work and earn a wage. Apprenticeships | Careers Wales (gov.wales) |
| Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) |
Trade Unions are able to use funds to develop essential skills within the workforce. |
| Further Education (post 16) | Further Education in Wales post 16 which provide part and fulltime courses these include colleges and sixth forms |
| Adult Community Learning | Provides learning in a range of courses within the local community for Adults. (Local Authority websites) |
| Higher Education (post 18) | Courses and qualifications provided by universities such as diplomas, foundation degrees and bachelor degrees. |
Delivering a Highly Skilled Workforce for Employers
| Programmes | Information/ Links |
|---|---|
| Flexible Skills Programme | 50% funding for flexible training to support employers upskill their staff in Digital, Exporting, Net Zero, Engineering and Manufacturing, Creative and Tourism and Hospitality Skills. Flexible Skills Programme | Business Wales Skills Gateway (gov.wales) |
| ReAct+ (20+ and disabled) | Offers a wage subsidy of up to £4,000 paid in quarterly instalments to employ a disabled person aged 20 or over. ReAct+ | Business Wales Skills Gateway (gov.wales) |
| Apprenticeships | Recruit an apprentice to expand your workforce and it’s skills base. Fully funded training through the network of Apprenticeship Training providers. Recruit an apprentice: guidance for employers | GOV.WALES |
| Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) | Trade Unions are able to use funds to develop essential skills within the workforce. Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) | Business Wales Skills Gateway (gov.wales) |
| BOSS/Business support | Offers a range of free Online courses created by Business Wales’ subject experts to support you in successfully starting and running your business BOSS (gov.wales) |
| Jobs Growth Wales + (16 -19) | Offers wage subsidies and tailored support to help grow your workforce. In return, we’re looking for your help to create employment opportunities, work tasters, or work experience placements for young people. Jobs Growth Wales+ | Business Wales Skills Gateway (gov.wales) |
Our Net Zero Skills Action Plan
If you want to know more about what Wales is doing to support the skills needs as we transition to our Net Zero future then our Net Zero Skills Action Plan will help. It contains 36 actions over 7 Priorities, aimed at helping identify and deliver the right skills now and in the future to support our net zero journey.
Future-proof your business and gain fresh perspectives by taking on a young person.
Upskill your workforce in digital, exporting, engineering and manufacturing, creative sector and tourism and hospitality
Spotlight on Success Stories in Wales
More and more Businesses are taking pro-active steps towards improving their sustainability, demonstrating their positive impact on the people and places around them. These are a growing community of forward-thinking organisations who are helping Wales transition to a low carbon future and who are seeing the benefits in equipping their workforce with the right skills.
We have developed a range of short case studies, highlighting just some of the changes employers are making now and how that is impacting on both their business practices but also in growing a skilled workforce to meet the future challenges.
https://www.gov.wales/net-zero-skills-case-studies
We hope these examples will help provide you with a fresh look at the possibilities and help you make the decision to invest in skills.
Want to get involved in the conversation and shape the future skills?
We would like to further understand your barriers and challenges in upskilling your staff to help meet the net zero commitments in 2030.
During the development of the plan we have engaged extensively with stakeholders who are all passionate about providing the right skills and opportunities that support our net zero commitment in addition to helping Wales grow and prosper.
We will continue that approach so that we all fully understand the needs of businesses, the future and the skills that are needed.
An action within the plan is to create a more flexible, responsive, and agile skills system in Wales. We cannot do this alone, there are many areas that need to come together to make this happen and that includes input from you as an employer.
If you would like to get involved there are a number of options and organisations that you can reach out to:
- Regional skills partnerships
- Employer representative bodies
- Trade unions
- Your local College network
In addition, if you would like to get in touch with us directly, email: NetZeroSkills@gov.wales
Where can you go for Help and Support?
There are various options on the Business Wales - Recruit and Train website to access help and support. Find out more at We're in your corner