Twenty-six skilled jobs have been created locally in a key green industry as a result of Leeds City Council’s investment in low carbon upgrades earlier this year.
Energy and water services company Cenergist has recruited thirteen full-time employees and moved thirteen existing staff to a newly opened office in South Leeds to work on two major council decarbonisation programmes.
Labourers, project managers, quantity surveyors and tenant liaison officers have all been hired by the company to help ensure the successful installation of low carbon heat pumps in multi-storey council housing, leisure centres, schools and homes for older people across the city.
Leader of Leeds City Council, Cllr James Lewis, visited the company’s new Beeston office yesterday to meet some of the new workers. He said:
“As I prepare to attend COP26 in Glasgow, I am proud to represent a city and council already doing so much to become carbon neutral.
“Taking bold steps to cut our emissions is not only the best thing we can do to protect ourselves and others from a changing climate but it is also the best strategy for Leeds to prosper from the economic opportunities of a greener world.
“When we invest in local low carbon projects, we help businesses like Cenergist to invest in and upskill local workers. It was great to meet some of the new Leeds team at their Beeston office and hear what their roles mean to them.
“As well as helping to create green jobs like these today through our investment, we’re also working with schools during COP26 to raise awareness of some of these essential careers and inspire the skilled workers of our future.”
In a recent report, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reported that a lack of awareness of the need for transitional skills and jobs is one of the barriers that must be addressed to ensure that the UK labour market is ready to deliver net zero. Among its recommendations included the promotion of ‘green’ career paths in schools and colleges.
To address this locally and building on the global focus on climate change over the next few weeks, Leeds City Council has partnered with social enterprise Ahead Partnership to host a COP26 Regional Roadshow event aimed at increasing young people’s awareness of the wide range of green career paths that contribute to net zero.
The event will give 30 secondary school pupils the opportunity to speak to and question local workers in jobs that contribute towards decarbonisation from a range of sectors. Attendees will also hear from representatives of the West Yorkshire Green Jobs Taskforce, the Mayor of West Yorkshire and the council’s own Executive Member for Infrastructure and Climate. Highlights will be filmed and shared following the event as an educational resource for all Leeds schools to benefit from.
