UWE Bristol to help inspire next generation of young people into green careers

UWE Bristol will play a key role in a new programme to educate more than 10,000 young people in the West of England about green skills and help them explore eco-friendly careers.

The University has received £60,000 from the West of England Combined Authority’s £300,000 Green Futures Fund to lead workshops for local children about green jobs.

The Inspire Sustainability team at UWE Bristol will use local role models to inform and inspire children in primary and secondary schools about green careers.

Workshops delivered by the team over the next two years will highlight the job opportunities available to help build a sustainable future for our planet and explain how young people’s skills are crucial to this transition.

As part of the project, UWE Bristol will identify a diverse array of local people in green jobs to feature in a Top Trumps-style card set. The idea draws on the success of the Engineering Curiosity Top Trumps cards released by the Inspire Sustainability team in 2021, funded by the Digital Engineering and Technology Innovation programme.

Dr Laura Fogg-Rogers, Associate Professor for Engineering in Society at UWE Bristol, said: “The aim is to show not only the great expanse of green career options, but also that people from all backgrounds can enter these careers and make a difference for a sustainable future. The card pack will showcase diverse local people at all career stages, from entry level to CEO, who have taken varied career pathways.”

The team are working alongside STEM career pathway experts My Future My Choice as well as role models from Climate Ambassadors, which forms part of the STEM Ambassador programme. As well as STEM expertise, the Natural History Consortium is a key partner and will highlight roles in nature, water, food, and the community.

Dr Louisa Cockbill, Communications Project Coordinator for the UWE Bristol School of Engineering's Inspire Sustainability team, said: “The cards will form the basis of a hands-on green careers kit, deployed by UWE Bristol’s outreach experts in hundreds of pop-up sessions and whole school events in the next two years.

“Sessions will be tailored for both primary and secondary school classes, with additional mini green summits specially designed to effectively engage children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and in alternative learning provision (ALP).

“To maximise awareness and support for green careers, the project will involve families wherever possible, and this will be a particular focus at big events such as the Festival of Nature in Bristol and Bath.”

West of England Mayor Dan Norris said: “I am immensely proud that more than 10,000 young people in the West of England are set to benefit from my Mayoral Combined Authority’s new Green Futures Fund. This £300,000 initiative is part of our region's broader plans to reach net zero by 2030, as we continue to build an economy where nobody is left behind. The climate and nature crises that we’re facing require big and bold action, and this fund is all about equipping our young people with skills for the future.

“By backing our young people, we're not only tackling the urgent challenges of our time but also ensuring that the West of England can thrive as a hub of innovation, sustainability, and opportunity. I can’t wait to see the benefits this £300,000 fund will bring to our communities, our economy, and our natural environment for years to come.”

To find out more about the project, visit the Green Futures Fund website and to book a workshop for 2025, visit the Curiosity Connections website.