5th March 2024, LONDON: Groundwork, a national charity that mobilises practical action on poverty and the environment across the UK, has today announced its new partnership with Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS), the leading event for the environmental services industry.

Together, they will focus on addressing the growing skills shortage in green jobs and encouraging more young people to pursue careers that protect the planet.

Through events and outreach initiatives this year, ESS and Groundwork will shine a spotlight on the critical need for skills development in areas like waste and recycling, water, renewable energy, environmental consulting, and more. Groundwork will have an active presence at ESS Expo 2024 on 11-12 September at the NEC Birmingham, including speaking sessions on nurturing green talent and overcoming employment barriers.

As part of this year’s event, Groundwork experts will headline its  ESS 2040; Green skills webinar this April focused on sustainability education and readying the next generation of green workers. The charity will also host an informational stand at ESS Expo, dedicated to training programmes, apprenticeships, and entry-level openings.

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said: “It’s great to see this new partnership with ESS Expo to help encourage and support young people to see the benefits of pursuing a career in the green skills sector. It’s vital that green infrastructure and low carbon jobs are both an accessible and exciting prospect in order for us to future-proof the workforce of tomorrow and build a more sustainable future for all.”

Ali McQueen, Head of Marketing at ESS Expo said: "We're delighted to announce this timely collaboration with Groundwork. With its dedication to creating greener communities and our network across the environmental industry, we feel strongly that together we can make tangible progress on the urgent issue of the green skills gap, as well as help tackle other important challenges in our combined sectors."

More details about the ESS-Groundwork partnership will be released in the coming months. Environmental organisations, universities, employers, recruiters, and all those committed to a sustainable future are encouraged to get involved.

For further information and media inquiries, please contact: Ali McQueen, Head of Marketing, ESS Expo.

ESS Expo will be returning to the NEC Birmingham from 11-12 September 2024. To sign up to the mailing list, visit the website here.

Find out more about the partnership here.

Venetia Knight, Head of Employment and Enterprise at Groundwork will be speaking at the ESS 2050 Series Green Skills Webinar - secure your FREE place below:

REGISTER FREE FOR THE WEBINAR

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About ESS Expo: Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS Expo) is a leading platform that brings together professionals, innovators, and thought leaders in the environmental services industry and across sustainability and net-zero. The expo provides a unique opportunity for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration to address current and future environmental challenges.

About Groundwork: Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience in order to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all: www.groundwork.org.uk