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Businesses Across Hampshire & Surrey Can Now Access FREE Courses to Help Address Green Skills Gaps

27th March 2023

 

Government funding has enabled colleges across Hampshire and Surrey to come together to create a suite of online courses that help address key green skills and help individuals on their journey towards greener careers.

As the UK strives towards becoming net zero by 2050, new green career opportunities are emerging and businesses are transitioning to a low carbon, green economy. To help support this shift, a suite of courses is being launched on the Innovation South Virtual Campus (ISVC) focusing on green skills.

With funding from the Department for Education’s Strategic Development Fund, the courses on offer cover a range of subject areas including sustainable Agriculture, Arboriculture and Horticulture practices, Retrofitting skills, such as Solar energy and heat pumps, maintenance and repair of electric and hybrid vehicles and Carbon Literacy – the awareness of climate change and understanding of how to reduce emissions. These courses have been developed with the help and collaboration of local employers to meet the needs of businesses and provide transferable skills. With the courses being easily accessible through the ISVC platform, businesses can use the training to close skill gaps within their workforce and identify new green opportunities. 

By working closely with local employers, the courses are designed to ensure they reflect current and future industry practices. As these courses have been developed to provide transferable skills, employers can use the training provided by ISVC as a way to bridge any skill gaps within their workforce, as well as to identify new potential for environmental and financial growth.

Suzanne Grant, Deputy Chief Executive at Sparsholt College said “The SDF partnership has taken innovative steps to provide our region with the skills necessary to support skilled green jobs, integrate new green technologies and help businesses transform and succeed in the green economy!

The launch of these green skill short courses showcases the varying needs and demands felt across all industries for crucial green skills. Innovation South Virtual Campus provides local businesses the opportunity to upskill their workforce in the latest green skills and technologies without the usual financial or qualification obstacles.”

Employees can create an account, explore the variety of new green skill courses available, and start their journey of learning at https://em3.isvc.co.uk/