Southwark Council, along with Lewisham and Lambeth, has set up an “innovative” green skills academy to help locals find work.
The multi-million-pound scheme, delivered in partnership with London Southbank University and the Mayor of London, will offer support into direct employment, apprenticeships, traineeships, training or self-employment in green and sustainability sectors.
Anyone aged 19 and over in the borough, who is unemployed or in low-income work, can access training courses for free at local colleges and adult education providers.
The green skills academy, as it is known, is being coordinated by the £44 million Mayor’s Academies Programme.
Southwark residents can retrain, upskill or seize new opportunities on London’s growing green job market, which is set to double in size over the coming decade.
The council hopes the new initiative will bring 1,230 qualifications as well as 382 jobs/apprenticeships and 119 work placements to the three London boroughs.
Jobs will focus on green construction and retrofitting, transport, energy, waste, recycling and infrastructure.
The council’s aim is to work directly with employers in these sectors to build skilled workforces, and give residents, including underrepresented groups, opportunities to overcome barriers to entry into green roles.
They also want to drive growth in the green economy and improve the skills needed for both residents and businesses to help tackle climate change.
“The green skills academy is a fantastic new resource to help our residents make the most of the growing green economy in London. It is part of our strategy to put people at the heart of our plans to tackle climate change, and to generate 5000 new green jobs in Southwark by 2030,” said Cllr Helen Dennis, cabinet member for climate emergency and sustainable development.
“I am proud that Southwark is a leading authority in London for our ambition to become net-zero by 2030 and I am delighted that the free training offered by the academy will open doors for our residents whilst also benefitting our environment.”
Activists have previously criticised Southwark Council’s green credentials in an open letter, saying their current policies do not go far enough to reduce emissions and tackle climate change.