Delivering London’s net zero ambitions will depend on more than investment in new technologies or infrastructure. It will require people with the right skills, at every level of the workforce, from the boardroom to the boiler room.
That was the focus of our recent event, Skills for a climate-ready London: From Boardroom to Boiler Room, delivered in partnership with WSP as part of London Climate Action Week. Bringing together employers, policymakers, educators and skills experts, the discussion explored how London can develop the workforce needed to support the capital’s transition to a greener economy.
The green economy is growing rapidly, creating new opportunities across every sector. But employers continue to report skills shortages, while the pace of change means many existing workers will also need to upskill and retrain. Closing this gap will require sustained collaboration between business, education providers and government.
Opening the discussion, Mark Hilton, Policy Delivery Director at BusinessLDN, highlighted the green skills priorities identified through the London Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP). He emphasised that businesses have a critical role to play in shaping and supporting skills provision, ensuring training reflects employer demand and helping London build the workforce it needs to deliver its climate ambitions.
Attendees also heard from Leonie Cooper, Deputy Chair of the London Assembly Environment Committee, who outlined the Greater London Authority’s work to build a green skills system that works for Londoners. She highlighted the importance of creating clear pathways into green careers, supporting lifelong learning and ensuring London’s skills system is responsive to the changing needs of employers as the economy transitions to net zero.
The event brought together a diverse panel of experts who shared practical examples of how organisations are helping to develop sustainable skills across London.
Isabel Oliveira, Sustainability and Responsible Banking Senior Manager at Santander UK, explored how the financial sector can support the green transition by helping businesses build capability alongside providing access to finance.
Signe Norberg, Head of Policy at the Institution of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals, discussed the importance of embedding sustainability skills across professions and ensuring that green expertise becomes a core competency throughout the workforce.
Barry Mortimer, West London Green Skills Hub Coordinator at West London College, demonstrated how partnerships between employers and further education providers are creating training opportunities that respond directly to local labour market needs and support people into green careers.
A consistent message emerged throughout the morning: green skills are no longer a niche requirement. Every sector, every organisation and every occupation will be affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy. Employers therefore have an essential role in helping shape the skills system, whether by identifying future workforce needs, offering placements and apprenticeships, or working closely with training providers to develop relevant courses.
The event also reinforced the importance of the LSIP as a framework for bringing employers and education providers together around shared priorities. By ensuring skills provision keeps pace with London’s evolving economy, the LSIP will help businesses access the talent they need while creating new opportunities for Londoners.
Building a climate-ready London will require action from all parts of the skills ecosystem. Events like this demonstrate the value of bringing together employers, government and educators to share ideas, strengthen partnerships and focus on practical solutions.
The transition to net zero presents one of London’s greatest economic opportunities. By investing in the right skills today, we can ensure businesses have the workforce they need to grow, while creating rewarding careers that will help build a more resilient, sustainable and competitive capital for the future.