To help councils and combined authorities build the workforce for net zero, a new relationship is needed, one created through a national strategic framework and local delivery partnerships model, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
The system, in its current guise, is not up to the scale of the challenge meeting net zero represents. A lack of national oversight and clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities of national and local government and their partners is stifling progress. Short-term funding is also causing issues. Local government does have the potential to deliver the alignment needed between net zero investments and the skills and employment system, but there is work to do to ensure it can.
The LGA is, therefore, calling for national government to co-design a framework with the local government sector that supports the delivery of collective net zero ambitions with a dynamic and skilled workforce. Firstly, there are a set of key things it needs underpinning it, starting with the creation of a strategic national timeline of investments through to 2030, ensuring that places can plan for the skills and jobs that will be needed, better aligning net zero ambitions with the local skills system.
It also needs insight and data, enabling jobs and skills planning across national, regional and local areas; a local first principle to form the basis for delivery of green jobs and skills; and alignment of funding, qualifications, and training, ensuring a dynamic collective response to the challenge of green skills and jobs.
Building it will call for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to lead a cross department co-production process, working alongside the local government sector. It will include co-producing, identifying and mapping all national funding streams and programmes related to achieving net zero, related net zero skills and green growth, as well as identifying all known key future infrastructure investments that have national or regional significant for achieving net zero or mitigating climate change.
A matrix of regularly updated datasets to inform programmes and policies is also needed, enabling local areas to identify and mitigate skills shortages, measure progress towards the net zero target, and contribute to monitoring and evaluating programmes and schemes.
Local government and partners, meanwhile, will be tasked with developing local green jobs and delivery plans. To do this, they must develop local green jobs taskforces that are based on new or current partnerships and map local responsibilities and accountabilities. They must also collate and map net zero, skills and green growth strategies and aspirations, as well as local funding streams, resource qualifications and training opportunities. Responsible technical guidance and advice from national government can give local government the capacity for the sector to develop these plans too.
