More than 1,000 people with barriers to work are expected to benefit from a pilot pre-employment programme delivered by Catch22, which will support people aged 18+ on their journey into energy transition careers.
The programme, supported by Shell UK, includes training that will initially run in London, Liverpool, Manchester and Norfolk, and will see participants take part in a four-week pre-employment and introduction to energy transition skills programme. It will offer:
- one-to-one support from a dedicated career coach,
- access to training funds for specific energy transition roles,
- access to employers with energy transition job opportunities, and
- in-work support.
The programme is part of Shell UK’s wider commitment across the decade to support communities across the UK by powering lives through jobs and skills. Shell UK aims to support 15,000 people into jobs, and will ensure people and communities in the UK benefit from the skills and opportunities in the energy transition.
According to research from LSE, one in five jobs in the UK (approximately 6.3 million workers) are expected to be impacted by the energy transition and the UK’s target of becoming net zero by 2050. Catch22’s work supports an urgent need for the workforce to embark on reskilling, upskilling, or using current skills differently.
Victoria Head, Strategic Director of Employability and Skills at Catch22, said:
“Entry level energy transition roles are not always easy to access, yet we know this is a sector where more and more jobs are going to be created. Our programme will help those who perhaps lack the skills, confidence or wider support, to secure energy transition job opportunities and help build sustainable careers.
“With one-to-one coaching, wrap-around support and access to training funds, we’re giving people who face barriers to work – including poor physical or mental health, low education attainment, caring responsibilities – the chance to embark on a new career path.”
The programme builds on a suite of work Catch22 is doing in the energy transition employability space, including:
- delivering the Grid for Good programme, with National Grid, connecting socioeconomically disadvantaged young people to the energy sector,
- delivering the Green Spark programme, funded by City and Guilds Foundation, which is a bursary programme to help people develop the skills, confidence and motivation to succeed in green job opportunities, and
- establishing the Green Jobs For All Forum, with Green Alliance as our research partner, to explore the barriers and opportunities in the sector for people facing barriers to work.