Recommendation 10

HM Government Not Addressed

As set out in the Skills for Jobs white paper, Government is taking forward reforms to put employers at the heart of the skills system to ensure it is responsive to the needs of local economies. The nature sector is key to the delivery of the Government’s environmental ambitions. The increased investment that we plan to drive into nature’s recovery will create green jobs in the sector, and a demand from these employers for the requisite skills. Additionally, Defra’s funding of 159 projects across England through the £80m Green Recovery Challenge Fund has demonstrated the critical role the nature sector plays in supporting skills development. These projects are enabling environmental charities and their partners to create and retain around 2,500 jobs, and to provide training, apprenticeship and upskilling opportunities. To further thus work, Defra are working with the nature sector to understand its future skills needs in more detail. A group of organisations in the sector has secured initial funding to develop a pilot Youth Environmental Service, along the lines of a National Nature Service. Furthermore, as part of DfE’s Draft Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, a National Education Nature Park and Climate Leaders award has been announced. This will increase the opportunities for children and young people to engage in nature and develop skills in areas such as bio-diversity mapping and data analysis. These initiatives will provide an excellent opportunity for children and young people to pursue their interests in nature and contextualise their learning through co-curricular activities. Over time, we want many children and young people in nurseries, schools and colleges to be engaging with the Park and the Award scheme and hence building that wider capacity and skills in working with nature.