For months now, politicians and commentators have been harping on about how green jobs can provide both a way to tackle climate change and an avenue for unemployed people to find a new career. Finally, we are starting to see some action in this vein, and it’s in the north that the initiative is being taken.
In Kensington, Liverpool, the award-winning Clean Team is already a common sight for residents, as the team ensures green spaces and communal gardens are tended too. Now, the team is set to become even more prolific.
Three more members have been added to the team, selected from 43 applications for the positions. This just goes to show how keen people are to move into a popular, stable and expanding environmental sector.
The scheme isn’t just a way to keep the city clean and provide jobs; those three new team members will start NVQ level 2 qualifications in amenity horticulture too, plus health and safety, risk assessment and manual handling training.
This was all achieved by collaboration with Riverside landlords, keen to keep the land around their properties green; Local Solutions, a social enterprise that provides services in various areas such as training, anti-bullying initiatives, crime prevention and much more; and Liverpool City Council’s Transitional Employment Programme.
The scheme exemplifies what great changes can be made to the way we work in the UK through green and ethical industries. Not only has this programme provided jobs and training for local people, as well as cleaning up the area; it has also encouraged collaboration between local landlords, the City Council, and social enterprises. It seems that a fresh approach to the environment has fostered a fresh approach to valuing employees, providing them with training that will not only help them to do their job, but also empower them to move forward in a green career with training that can easily be built on. As well as that, it’s a fresh approach in terms of business, with a social enterprise rather than a traditional business providing services. Let’s hope that fresh approach is taken up in more areas to provide green jobs to people eager to work and develop careers in the environmental sector.
Author
Rachel Charman, a writer for JuicyJobs; Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living. For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in the UK.
