net zero future skills survey

Coventry University working with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) are assessing the current skills and competencies within the region's workforce, and to identify the emerging skill gaps and future workforce requirements that will be essential for driving innovation and growth in the West Midlands around net zero skills.

The Clean Futures programme in collaboration with Coventry University is delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, UK Research and Innovation, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and supported by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

This survey provides an opportunity to give your opinions on net zero skills for small and medium businesses.

For clarity Net Zero skills is based on the Office of National Statistics (ONS) definition of a green job as: “Employment in an activity that contributes to protecting or restoring the environment, including those that mitigate or adapt to climate change.

Survey answers are anonymous and will not be shared outside the research team where answers are aggregated for general report findings. Individual comments will not be credited to individuals. No personal details are captured other than for the prize draw, which is optional to enter and these details are kept separate from the survey.

We use a scale of 1-5 star rating on questions to allow for easy answering and also judgement. To assist you the scale is 1 (Very Low) upto 5 (Very High).

Would you like to enter the prize draw for £200 voucher or £200 charity donation

Yes

Prize Draw - Terms and Conditions
Entry into the free prize draw is conditional on full completion of the online survey. Once the online survey has been submitted by the individual and has been checked by the promoter to see that it has been fully completed, entry into the free prize draw will immediately follow unless the box has been ticked on the online survey to opt out of the free prize draw. Entry will be deemed as acceptance of these rules. This free prize draw is open to any person aged 18 or over who is invited to participate by the promoter, and who fully completes an online survey which is submitted and accepted by the promoter on or before the relevant deadline of the online survey. Only one entry per individual is allowed. Employees of companies within the Edale group and anyone else involved in the operation of the free prize draw are excluded from entering. There is one prize of two hundred pounds (£200) of vouchers or a £200 donation to a registered charity listed on the Charities Commission website as active. This prize is non-negotiable, non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. The draw will be made by random selection from all valid entries within one month of the closing date. The winner will be notified by email. By entering the free prize draw, entrants agree that their details may be disclosed to anyone requesting details of the prize winner. Details of the prize winner will be available on the working day after 15th of one month after the closure of the application by sending a stamped address envelope to “Win £200 of Vouchers” Edale Enterprises Limited, 15 Bell Street, Reigate, RH2 7AD. The promoter’s decision is binding in all matters. The promoter can accept no responsibility for, and reserves the right to refuse, entries which are corrupt, incomplete or fail to arrive by the relevant closing dates. These rules are governed by English law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts. The promoter accepts no liability or responsibility for entries lost, delayed or undelivered, nor any liability for technical errors or communication failures in networks and/or internet access. Promoter: Edale Enterprises Limited,15 Bell Street, Reigate, RH2 7AD. Registered No 12112087. Edale is a trading name of Edale Enterprises Limited.

Email for the prize draw *

What industry do you work in? *

What is the location of your workplace? *

How many people work in your organisation? *

Your age?

Selected Value: 18

Responses to consultations are likely to be made public, on the internet or in a report. If you would prefer your response to remain anonymous, please tick here:

Yes

Are you answering this survey as an Employer or Employee? *

Employer

Your organisation's current need for Net Zero skills? *

Does your organisation have a new zero skills training plan? *

What proportion of roles in your firm currently require net zero skills now? *

What proportion of roles in your firm to do expect to require net zero skills in the future? *

What benefits have you gained from net zero skills development? *

None as we have not taken any net zero skills development
Enhanced organisation reputation
Increased business differentiation
Met customers expectations and retained business
Met changing supply chain requirements
Greater employee satisfaction and workplace happiness
Cost saving and/or return on investment
Build the organisation's resilience
New area of business needing net zero skills

Main barrier(s) preventing your organisation from embracing net zero skills? *

What action is needed to remove those barriers? *

What factors have created, or will create, a need for net zero skills? *

Key challenges your organisation faces on net zero skills *

What are the solutions to overcome the challenges? *

What business areas are you requiring net zero skills now and in the future? *

What is the impact on your organisation of net zero skills gap? *

What change in net zero skills will your organisation need over the next five years? *

We will require more employees with net zero skills
Our employees will require new or different net zero skills
Our employees will require new qualifications to those required now
We will require fewer employees with new zero skills
Not appllicable
Don't know

How are/will your organisation respond to their need for net zero skills? *

Upskilling/retraining existing employees
Hiring new employees with those skills
Recruiting apprentices/graduates and providing training
Automating work/tasks
Outsourcing the necessary tasks to another organisation
Increasing contingent labour (e.g. contractors, agency workers)
Not applicable – my organisation will not do anything in particular
Don't know

What are your organiastion's experiences with recruiting staff with the necessary net zero skills? *

Is your organisation experiencing a net zero skills gap now? *

How will moving towards a 'greener' economy affect your local community? *

What changes to skills and knowledge of your staff is needed to grow the organisations net zero skill levels? *

What investment, policies, transitioning impacts, technologies are expected to be implemented that will impact the net zero skills needs in the West Midlands and their timescales?

Will these result in new jobs being created or broadly maintaining the existing number of jobs, but with a level of upskilling required or changes to the types of occupations? If so, please give details of opportunities and potential geography in the West Midlands.

What will be the new, emerging or increased net zero skills demands as a result in the West Midlands?

What are the key milestones or timescales to deliver these skills in the West Midlands?

What cross-cutting circular economy skills do you consider are required in your sector? (for example, eco-design, re-use, repair, remanufacture, reprocessing)?

Are there any dependencies with other sectors, with specific links to skills? If so, what are these and what are their impacts?

What groups (steering, advisory) exist currently to gather and capture information on skills needs, undertake mapping and monitoring, or advice on future industry/sector requirements?

If you have any related issues which we have not specifically addressed, please use this space to report them:

Agree or disagree with the following statements

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements in relation to net zero skills: 1 (Strongly disagree) upto 5 (Strongly Agree).

Business will drive the change needed *

Government policies are necessary to bring about change *

Technology will deliver the required solutions *

Financial system actors hold the key to unlocking change *

An integrated, collaborative, systemic approach is required *

Employee

Are you undertaking any net zero skills training/educational course *

Yes, I am studying at a further education college
Yes, I am studying at a university
Yes, I am studying with a private training provider
Yes, I am undertaking formal training in the workplace
No
No, but I plan to study in the future

What information and support would you like to help you pursue a net zero career? *

Information on net zero career options
Information on what net zero skills are
Information on the net zero skills employers require
Information on the progression opportunities within green careers
Information on the prospective salaries for green jobs
Support with finding educational options that include net zero skills
Support to get relevant work experience
None - I don't want any information or support to pursue a net zero career
Don't know

Barriers preventing you from pursuing net zero skills career? *

I dont understand what "net zero jobs" are available
I don't understand what net zero skills employers require
I don't know how to acquire net zero skills
A lack of relevant work experience opportunities
A lack of educational options that would allow me to acquire net zero skills
I don't understand what a "net zero career" is
None - there are no barriers preventing me from pursuing a "net zero career"
I do not want to pursue a "net zero career'"
Don't know

How do you think your organisation are/will respond to their need for net zero skills? *

Upskilling/retraining existing employees
Hiring new employees with those skills
Recruiting apprentices/graduates and providing training
Automating work/tasks
Outsourcing the necessary tasks to another organisation
Increasing contingent labour (e.g. contractors, agency workers)
Not applicable – my organisation will not do anything in particular
Don't know

What changes to your skills and knowledge is needed to grow your net zero skill levels? *

What motivates you to work in a job that needs net zero skills? *

How will moving towards a 'greener' economy affect your local community? *

How will moving towards a 'greener' economy affect you? *

Highest level of qualification you hold? *

Agree or disagree with the following statements

Rate your agreement to the statements below: 1 (Strongly disagree) upto 5 (Strongly Agree).

I have a good knowledge about the causes and effects of climate change *

My current knowledge and skills are useful for working in the green economy *

I know what net zero skills employers require within the current labour market *

Net zero skills will be essential to succeed in the labour market of the future *

My organisation will help me get net zero skills training *