Networks at the Nexus

More than ever, we need networks—and networks of networks—for a sustainable world.

We were reflecting the other day on networks—the ones we join, the ones we build, and the ones we stumble into by chance. Anyone who is anywhere near the world of sustainability knows these aren’t just gatherings with email threads and LinkedIn invites. They’re something far more potent.

Every network is a node in the vast, buzzing ecosystem of the green economy. Over the past thousand (or so) days, The Green Edge has chatted with hundreds of folks—engineers, educators, community activists, you name it—who are steering the ship toward net zero. And guess what? All of them were networked to the nines. It’s not just about trading business cards or sitting in on webinars. These networks are the crucibles where skills are shared, projects are born, and ideas are trialled and tested.

Take Portsmouth International Port. They’re pulling together local suppliers and university researchers to rethink sustainability in shipping, and this is paying dividends in terms of long-term commitments from like-minded shipping firms. Or IEMA’s Green Careers Hub, where people swap notes on how to make green work, work. Then there are community energy groups backed by Ashden, with volunteers on the ground helping homes save energy and reduce emissions. Each of these networks is a learning engine, shaping how we tackle climate challenges together.

Networks to shape green skills

It’s no secret that skills are the bedrock of the green transition. From retrofitting homes to designing carbon-neutral products, we need a workforce equipped with tools fit for the job. But where do these skills come from? Increasingly, the answer is networks.

England’s Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) showed us some promising green shoots in that respect, with some encouraging place-based partnerships developing between colleges and employers to tackle skills gaps with targeted training and collaboration. Like in South Yorkshire, where colleges have joined forces with local businesses and universities to close the region’s critical gaps in areas like logistics and manufacturing. And East Anglia, where East Coast and West Suffolk Colleges are skilling up in offshore wind power and other green and digital skills. These collaborations aren’t just about sharing resources—they're about creating ecosystems where skills can thrive, industries can grow, and the green transition can finally find its footing.

Then there’s the sector-specific work happening through Innovate UK’s Innovation Networks and the Catapult Network. These innovation-focused communities provide both the hard skills—technical know-how for cutting-edge technologies—and the soft skills needed to apply them. And we’ll follow with a great deal of interest to see how America’s Electric Freight Consortium fares in Trump’s new ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ era. It’s through these webs of collaboration that green skills take root and flourish, ensuring we have the capacity to meet the challenges ahead.

Laboratories for green change

At last week’s First Hand meeting, our conversation turned to signals—those tiny, flickering indicators that a big change is afoot. Networks don’t just share best practices; they’re laboratories where these signals are picked up, tested, and amplified. We find there’s also some kind of virtue in being able to operate outside of the mainstream, having freedom of the restrictions of the more formal institutions; sometimes, ‘alternative’ initiatives like Transition Town Totnes can morph into—if not main, then at least significant tributary—streams of their own.

Other good examples can be found in the ever-growing number of community energy groups. They might start small—installing solar panels on a local school or running energy-saving workshops—but they become incubators for bigger ideas. What works here could inform national policy. What doesn’t…well, that could spark discussions leading to breakthroughs elsewhere.

Networks are also a vital testing ground for systemic change. Are we at a tipping point for sustainability education? The trends suggest yes, but networks allow us to play out the scenarios, experiment with solutions, and refine the systems we’re building. From the high-energy innovation happening at the UK100 local authority network to grassroots movements like the Felix Project, networks give us a space to imagine and create new ways of doing things.

The art of convening

Joining a network isn’t enough. Running one, shaping one, and growing one—that’s where the magic happens. Convening a network that matters requires more than just scheduling a few meetings and hoping for the best. It’s an art form, blending leadership, storytelling, and no small amount of grit.

We’ve seen this firsthand in networks like those being built by Peterborough City Council and their part in the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Climate Partnership Group. They’re not just responding to the sustainability agenda; they’re driving it, pooling resources to deliver climate mitigation—including, we hope, skills development—programmes that would be impossible alone. This kind of collaboration requires a unique set of skills: systems thinking to see the big picture, innovation to tackle roadblocks, and advocacy to keep everyone moving forward.

Yet, convening is a skill that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. It needs to be nurtured, whether through formal training programs or informal mentorships within existing networks. It’s a skill we’ll need more than ever as the green transition accelerates and the challenges become more complex.

So, we ask ourselves, what kind of networkers are we? Are we simply dipping our toe into the waters, or are we helping steer the ship? Networks aren’t just a means to an end; they’re the embodiment of the green economy in action. They’re where the skills are forged, the ideas are tested, and the future is built.

If you’re in one, lean in. If you’re not, find one that excites you—or better yet, create one. Because the path to net zero isn’t just about technology or policy; it’s about connection. And those connections, as small as they might seem, are changing the world.