Creating a Greener London – Sustainable Construction Skills

Telling the story

The delivery of the pilot project is divided into three phases of intent, implementation and on the impact of the project. During the intent phase, pilot projects formalised their partnership model and they identified the approaches to embed green skills into their Level 2 construction courses. At the end of phase 1, the participating colleges produced a skills matrix of which detailed opportunities to embed green skills within existing Level 2 Construction courses, mapped to Level 3 progression outcomes and green jobs.

During phase 2 of the project, the college groups generated awareness and interest in the pipeline into skilled green jobs, pilot projects by delivering a series of CIAG activities to cohorts of Level 1 and 2 construction students. This helped in building a stronger recognition of green jobs and highlighted the importance of learning these new green skills delivered in phase 3 of the project.

Pilot projects surveyed Level 1 and 2 students to gauge their understanding of the climate emergency and the future of green jobs within construction at the start of the curriculum year. The data collected was used to design inclusive green CIAG activities, which took into consideration the diverse backgrounds, experiences and understanding of the cohort’s needs and raised awareness of the multiple routes into green employment as well as wider green practices. As well as discussing green skills linked to emerging technologies, sustainable practices, and buildings regulations, CIAG also included the employability skills required for the sector such as communication, creativity, professional integrity, and general business skills.

Each pilot project delivered green CIAG activities to 120 Level 1 and 2 students. Activities were co-designed and delivered by employers and by college staff. This phase of delivery increased awareness and understanding of green employment opportunities in the buildings and homes sector and the progression pathways into these roles among Level 1 and 2 learners as was evidenced in the re visiting of a student survey which captured the distance travelled by participating students.

The final phase of project delivery is to gauge the impact and sees employers and college practitioners develop and deliver the relevant green skills training, identified in phase 1 to Level 2 construction students.

Employers and college staff designed the green skills training of which is delivered directly to students. College practitioners collaborate with employers to deliver at least fifteen green skills sessions, over 30 hours to a minimum of 105 construction students within each pilot.

Pilot projects developed engaging activities that support Level 2 students to develop the green skills of which will better equip them to progress into green employment. The pilot colleges also ensure students develop an understanding of the broad issues related to climate change in the homes and buildings sector, such as building performance and the overarching aims of sustainable practice to ensure students progressing into green jobs have a sustainability-oriented mindset.

The skills developed through the project support learners to progress to Level 3 study, with a focus on Apprenticeships relevant to the green construction economy, and to ensure that they are fully prepared to progress into stable employment.