Boroughs gear up for Green Deal

Nicola Keogh, Rochdale Council; Rob Wellman, Summit Skills; Robert Lynch J21; Mal Nolan, Rochdale Council; Carl Abbott, University of Salford and Barry Simons, Rochdale Council

More than fifty Employment and Skills Advisors from across Rochdale and Oldham met last week to discover how the Environmental Technologies Sector will play a bigger role in the economies of the two boroughs.

The event, held at Middleton Arena was designed to introduce advisors to the ‘Green Deal’, a new and ambitious approach to home energy efficiency. It also aims to raise awareness of how the advisors can help their clients in taking advantage of future job opportunities.

With an estimated 100,000 ‘green jobs’ expected to be created in the UK over the next 5 years, and even more in the future, the Green Deal is about growing the economy in a way that’s good for jobs, the environment and energy security.

Amongst the Keynote Speakers were Carl Abbott, University of Salford; Rob Wellman, SummitSkills and Robert Lynch, J21.

Robert Lynch described how J21 is working with local companies to tackle the skills challenges ahead.

Mr Lynch said: "The building services engineering sector has a major part to play in meeting the carbon reduction targets set by Government. There’s a huge challenge ahead for employers to have the right skills in place to adapt and respond to new system designs and working practices.

“Technology is changing rapidly and we need to keep ahead of the game to ensure that local residents benefit from future employment opportunities that the” Green Deal” will bring.”

“Nowadays many companies in the Building Services Engineering sector advertise opportunities on their websites so it’s really important that we utilise new technologies to help our clients in taking advantage of future employment opportunities”

J21 is working closely with local employers to provide bespoke training packages.