Green Jobs for the Future: Reducing Unequal Outcomes for Young People in Coastal Communities

Co-producing inclusive social change through a collaboration between UCL researchers and local policymakers, practitioners and young people in Great Yarmouth coastal community

The project focused on Great Yarmouth, with the aim of better understanding the local context and developing a local network. The area had scope for new 'Green Jobs', but the local partners were concerned that young people were not aware of the potential opportunities, and there were insufficient employment pathways to support local people to attain these jobs.

To seek solutions to this issue, the project team interviewed 26 key informants from within and beyond the region, including policymakers, employers, youth practitioners and educators. This revealed a range of models for supporting young people's awareness of 'green jobs'. In addition, 6 focus groups were conducted with 26 young people aged 14-26, gauging their knowledge about 'green jobs' and what support they had to help them develop their knowledge about career options and career planning. 

From the initial findings from the key informant interviews, a continuum definition of 'green jobs' emerged. Some used the spectrum of dark, medium-light green roles. "Dark green" referred to jobs which inherently contribute to net zero or the environment. "Light green" is broader, encompassing roles which can incorporate environmental attributes. In contrast, the majority of young people did not find 'green jobs' to be a meaningful term. This was attributed to gardening or the environment. 

There were several different initiatives across the UK to raise awareness about green jobs. Many of these were funded or run by industry, particularly energy companies. Many of these provided online resources or interactive learning, and some did face-to-face visits, careers fairs or events. In Great Yarmouth, young people's responses to these options were varied, with careers advice being minimal or one-off, expressing a desire for more regular and ongoing support. 

Wind turbines from Great Yarmouth Beach Photo Credit: Rachel Wilde