The turning of the page on another municipal year is always a time to reflect on achievements, and plan for the future. In looking back, I particularly applaud the numerous successes for our Growth hub. Modpods International, a modular house builder is bringing another 125 jobs to Coventry, including 11 new apprenticeships, with their lift and shift approach that provides affordable, low carbon, new homes. Ola Electric, the sister company to Indian ride-hailing app invested in a new R&D base to develop the electric vehicles of the future. We saw further growth at EnginSoft UK providing state-of-the-art virtual prototyping, consultancy, training and research for a wide range of clients in the automotive industry. And the West Midlands Gigafactory at Coventry Airport is the first and the biggest Gigafactory site to get planning permission, and the only site that is immediately deliverable to an investor.

What unites these successes is the growth in skilled tech and manufacturing jobs, attractive to young talent, and embracing low carbon and smart tech. We are aligned with the Government’s Net Zero Strategy, and will be playing our part in meeting the ambition for more electric vehicles, low carbon homes, and the sectoral focus on emerging technologies.

But while these successes are to be welcomed and celebrated, to put long-term net-zero solutions in place, we need public-private partnership on a significant scale to address problems, bring together funding, and co-create solutions.

As we transition to a net-zero economy, we have to particularly face up to the green skills gap and put in place measures to tackle it. There cannot be any contradiction between our ambitions to level up our communities, deliver a net-zero economy, and maintain a skilled workforce. We need a skills and labour market strategy for green jobs that delivers job creation and economic prosperity. We must make the connection between the green skills we need today to secure the green jobs of the future.

But there are systemic barriers and hurdles we need to urgently tackle. Our education system is not sufficiently employer-led and informed. Secondary schools need to do more, which is part of our rationale in bringing in a senior leader with direct school experience to help with curriculum development. We need to see more localized public-private collaborations and leadership, hence we are procuring an energy partnership joint venture currently in development. The Apprenticeship Levy has failed to address the skills deficit, and whilst the Government acknowledges Apprenticeship take-up in SMEs is lagging behind, no funding directed to supporting this work has been forthcoming. Despite the promise of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, the average worker is currently below the skill level needed to access emerging green jobs. Analysis by the New Economics Foundation has found that the average worker needs 6 to 18 months of additional work-related training (on the job or in an educational institution) to access existing green jobs. Adult participation in education and skills training is a major challenge, with declining levels of participation due to time and cost barriers. There is little flexibility for people to retrain to work in the emerging industries of tomorrow when in full-time employment. Weekend and remote learning and development opportunities are limited.

To ensure we have the right workforce with the right skills in the right place, we need to use our convening power to bring together schools, colleges, further and higher education institutions, training providers and businesses. Green skills development and job creation must be co-created by local partners. While the establishment of a Green Jobs Delivery Working Group in Whitehall is welcome, it needs to quickly recognise that the answer is in our towns and cities. To that end, the Coventry Climate Change Board and the City Skills Board will make it a shared endeavor to tackle the barriers standing in the way of a green skills future for our city.

The West Midlands will be home to one of the UK’s 12 Investment Zones. The attractive fiscal incentives on offer are welcome, and an Investment Zone will act as a spur for prospective investors in a geographical cluster known for innovation in the automotive, engineering and manufacturing sectors. However, that can only be realised if we have the skilled workforce in place to meet the needs of businesses. Gaining powers over skills provision means we can better match our commercial growth sectors with local skills provision. Together with greater responsibility for local economic development by local councils, we are well-positioned to drive strategic economic development, and use our convening power to facilitate local partnerships, and attract the investment and skills our city needs.

The transition to Net Zero requires collective effort, and local government has to be the galvanizing force sitting at the heart of our stakeholders from businesses to investors, from schools to universities. With our established local networks, community knowledge and influence over procurement, we will play a critical role in adapting our economy and communities for the future. But we can’t under-estimate the importance of securing the green skills to deliver the green jobs of the future. That’s my number one challenge for this municipal year.

Andy Williams

Director of Business, Investment and Culture, Coventry City Council

@AndyWilliamsCov