Very true Philip, when I lived in the North East I was involved in one major restructuring at ICI Petrochemicals at Wilton where we tried to ensure the individual and their community were not negatively impacted by 4000 people leaving the site. Our Resettlement Group was well supported, and pension funds were buoyant. Totally agree, the coal, shipbuilding and steel industries suffered badly along with their workers and communities, and it is vital that as the pace of the adjustment of the UK workforce builds-up momentum with the transition to net zero, we need support for upskilling, reskilling and career changes. To make this a reality we need effective transition plans for specific sectors and communities. For many in the energy intensive and extraction industries they have skills very relevant to delivering net zero, and we must ensure their skills are well used as the UK workforce needs every pair of hands over the next 5-10 years.
"Older workers, who are particularly represented in farming and oil and gas, may need tailored support to transition to alternative low-carbon sectors”. This reminds me of the Thatcher era when the needs (economically, socially and culturally) of coalminers were pretty much ignored in the rush to change. It's vital for societal cohesion that we achieve a just transition as well as reparations for those communities affected by but not contributing towards climate change.
Very true Philip, when I lived in the North East I was involved in one major restructuring at ICI Petrochemicals at Wilton where we tried to ensure the individual and their community were not negatively impacted by 4000 people leaving the site. Our Resettlement Group was well supported, and pension funds were buoyant. Totally agree, the coal, shipbuilding and steel industries suffered badly along with their workers and communities, and it is vital that as the pace of the adjustment of the UK workforce builds-up momentum with the transition to net zero, we need support for upskilling, reskilling and career changes. To make this a reality we need effective transition plans for specific sectors and communities. For many in the energy intensive and extraction industries they have skills very relevant to delivering net zero, and we must ensure their skills are well used as the UK workforce needs every pair of hands over the next 5-10 years.
"Older workers, who are particularly represented in farming and oil and gas, may need tailored support to transition to alternative low-carbon sectors”. This reminds me of the Thatcher era when the needs (economically, socially and culturally) of coalminers were pretty much ignored in the rush to change. It's vital for societal cohesion that we achieve a just transition as well as reparations for those communities affected by but not contributing towards climate change.