New Courses in Cornwall to Boost Green Careers: £2 Million Project to Drive Sustainable Practices

Published On: 8 July 2024Last Updated: 8 July 2024By CornishStuff

People in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly now have the opportunity to enhance their skills and learn sustainable workplace methods through a new £2 million project aimed at promoting green practices.

The Cornwall College Group (TCCG) is spearheading ‘The Future is Green’ project in collaboration with several partners, including Truro and Penwith College, Cornwall Marine Network, University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Falmouth University, Focus Training (SW) Ltd, Urban Biodiversity CIC, and Celtic Sea Power.

Training for Green Careers

The project is designed to help both unemployed and employed individuals over the age of 16 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to train, re-skill, or upskill for green careers. The training covers various sectors, such as:

Clean Energy and Power: Including wind and solar
Visitor Economy: Focusing on green tourism and sustainable food supply
Agri-food and Natural Resources: Emphasising decarbonising agriculture and nature restoration
Construction: Featuring retrofitting, heat pumps, and hydrogen boilers

In addition, businesses in high-carbon sectors in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will receive support to develop more sustainable methods through staff retraining and skills development.

Empowering the Community

Lisa Pill, head of projects and partnerships at TCCG, highlighted the project’s impact: “This project is a ground-breaking initiative aimed at empowering our community with the skills needed for a sustainable future.” She added, “By providing training in key green sectors, we are helping to create a workforce capable of driving environmental change and supporting the local economy.”

Students Leading the Way

Cornwall College students and apprentices, supported by The Future is Green project, recently constructed an electric car for the Greenpower Education Trust event at Perranporth and Predannack. This project showcased innovative thinking and sustainable methods. The event brought together dozens of schools and hundreds of enthusiastic pupils, highlighting the critical role of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in contributing to greener practices.

Success Stories from Learners

The Future is Green courses at TCCG have already supported dozens of local employers. Beau Carlton-Barnes, a Level 3 Light Vehicle Repair and Maintenance student at the Camborne campus and employed by Dan CB Tyres, shared his experience: “I’m learning how to be more environmentally conscious, sustainable and drive a positive change in my daily choices and work practices. I’m really excited to take that knowledge back to the industry and do my part in creating a greener future.”

Another student, Nedas Venckus, employed by Robert Moore of Zoar Tyres, expressed his enthusiasm: “This project has been a game-changer for me. The skills I’ve gained here extend beyond personal choices; they help guide me to actively make greener decisions which will positively contribute to a more environmentally responsible industry.”

For more information on how TCCG can support your business or company, visit The Future is Green.

About the Future is Green Project

The Future is Green project is part-funded by the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) and supports industry sectors including Clean Energy and Power, Visitor Economy, Agri-food and Natural Resources, Construction, and Transport.