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ESS: Boosting green careers and young talent in the waste industry

One of the biggest challenges facing the sector is the promotion of green skills and methods to encourage skilled young people to begin careers in the waste and resources industry.

This key issue will be unpacked at the Resource and Waste Management (RWM) Expo, part of the Environmental Services and Solutions (ESS) Expo, at the NEC in Birmingham next week (11-12 September).

The “Green Skills and Future Talent” stage – sponsored by Grundon – will be exploring solutions and addressing challenges through several talks, panels and Q&A sessions.

Notably, at 2:25pm to 3:25pm on Day 1 (11 September), there will be an interactive Q&A session titled “Green Skills: How to Encourage more people into jobs in the Environment Sector” which will dive into attracting talent to the sector.

Chris Isaac of FCC Environment, Martin Baxter, CEO of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), and Simon Clark, science communicator at Tired Bear Films, will host a series of presentations on leveraging social media platforms to showcase green careers and inspire young audiences.

They’ll also navigate the evolving landscape of education and training programs that equip individuals for green jobs. Additionally, the discussion will explore strategies to promote inclusivity and attract underrepresented groups to environmental careers.

This will be followed by an interactive Q&A session which aims to allow attendees to engage with the experts and gain insights on building a skilled green workforce.

The workshop is designed for environmental service companies, educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in fostering a greener future through a skilled and passionate workforce.

From 11:00am to 11:45am on Day 2 (12 September), the stage will host a panel discussion titled “How Can We Build a More Diverse and Inclusive Environmental Workforce?”.

The discussion will bring together diverse experts to explore the importance of representation and equity in achieving environmental sustainability – examining the current demographics of the sector and identifying areas for improvement.

The conversation will delve into the challenges faced by underrepresented groups, including unconscious bias, access to training, and ensuring inclusive hiring practices.

The final event on the “Green Skills and Future Talent” stage will be the presentation of the 35 under 35 Awards.

With nominees from some of the biggest names in the industry, the event will celebrate 35 young people making substantial contributions to the waste and resources industry.

These are just three of many inspiring events taking place on the stage and across the expo. Grab your tickets now.

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