Welsh Government publish green skills review

[edit] Background

On 8 October 2025 the Welsh Government published the final of four rapid reviews, examining how Wales can strengthen its workforce to support the transition to a net zero economy. Building on the 2023 Net Zero Skills Action Plan and the 2024 sector consultation. The review drew on engagement with key stakeholders, including the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and many others, to inform coordinated recommendations for Ministers. It built upon previous initiatives such as the previous Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales and the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter in Wales which was launched with cross-party support at the Senedd last November.

[edit] Green skills review

Significant progress has already been made to identify sector-specific skills needs and develop emission sector roadmaps, while current work with Regional Skills Partnerships is deepening understanding of local challenges and green opportunities. The government is also developing clear career pathways in net zero industries, expanding STEM education, refining qualification frameworks, and supporting workforce upskilling. Collaboration with Medr aims to make the skills and apprenticeship system more flexible and responsive, ensuring Wales is equipped for a just and sustainable transition. The aim of the review was to explore the current Welsh Green Skills System and consider opportunities to provide specific and actionable recommendations to inform short to medium-term delivery summarised under 5 themes:

[edit] Communication of green skills across Wales

The review emphasised the need for consistent terminology and stronger engagement with employers, educators, and the public to promote green skills and career pathways. It highlighted the importance of embedding sustainability and STEM learning in schools, improving career advice, and strengthening collaboration with industries. Greater clarity and long-term direction in areas such as the built environment were seen as essential to attract private investment. Recommendations include launching a national green skills campaign, developing “Journey to Competence” pathways for key professions, and enhancing the visibility of green career opportunities across Wales.

[edit] Better understanding the green skills needs of Welsh industries

While extensive skills mapping has been carried out, the review identified the need for better coordination and real-time intelligence to understand current and emerging green skills requirements. Collaboration between Welsh Government, Medr, and Regional Skills Partnerships was recommended to improve data sharing and use digital tools for more effective mapping. The review also called for a cross-government skills audit to ensure future programmes align with Wales’s net zero and industrial priorities, such as retrofit, offshore wind, and digital technologies.

[edit] Supporting more agile and responsive green skills qualifications

Wales has a strong tertiary education foundation for green skills, but the review recommended making qualifications more adaptable to evolving industry needs. It stressed the value of broad foundational learning combined with flexible green “bolt-on” qualifications and micro-credentials. Apprenticeships, Personal Learning Accounts, and other lifelong learning routes should remain central, with regular reviews to ensure relevance. The review also called for collaboration with Medr and industry to refine qualification frameworks and communicate updates effectively to stakeholders.

[edit] Improving collaboration across the Welsh skills system

The review found that greater integration is needed across government, academia, industry, and training providers to ensure consistency and efficiency in green skills delivery. Strengthening collaboration between the Welsh Government and Medr is vital for aligning activity and messaging. Future efforts should focus on reducing system fragmentation, improving coordination between economic, innovation, and skills policies, and supporting regional partnerships. It also proposed exploring regional skills hubs and cross-sector funding models to address local workforce needs collaboratively.

[edit] Building a stronger green skills ecosystem

Stakeholders demonstrated strong commitment to advancing green skills and urged the government to capitalise on Wales’s legislative frameworks, such as the Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 and the Social Partnership and Public Procurement Act 2023, to embed social value into green skills development. The review recommended creating a Green Skills Stakeholder Engagement Group to ensure ongoing dialogue with industry and exploring ways to strengthen skills-related procurement for maximum community and environmental benefit.

[edit] Recommendations

Recommendations made as a result of the review include commitments by Welsh Government to:

• Work with industry to identify, develop and publish ‘Journey to Competence’ pathways for all major Green Skills professions and recognise a ‘built environment sector’ in Wales, by the end of the year.
• Work collaboratively with Medr, the Regional Skills Partnerships and across Welsh Government to explore digital tools/solutions for collating and streamlining skills mapping activities.
• Consider how we communicate and relaunch Green Skills part-time provision to maintain momentum on the success of Green PLAs (Personal Learning Accounts) and frame them within wider green learning support to ensure their continuing relevancy in a fast-moving skills picture.
• Work with Industry, Medr and partners to continue to increase awareness of regional variations in skills needs and consider valuable opportunities for collaboration – including exploring the potential for regional skill hubs/collective funding models which operate cross sector and are industry led.
• Set up a regular Green Skills Stakeholder Engagement Group to test our planned direction and interventions and promote an industry-led approach to Green Skills provision in Wales.

[edit] Industry responses

Commenting on the review recommendations, in the article 'ECA welcomes Welsh Government green skills review and recommendations' ECA Deputy CEO Andrew Eldred (who attended every meeting of the joint stakeholder group) said:

“ECA Members in Wales can take some satisfaction that proposals contained in our Recharging Electrical Skills Charter are resonating now with Welsh Government.

“Better skills data collection and reporting, a much-needed reboot for green skills provision (with sustained industry input), and above all a stronger and more consistent voice for industry – at both national and regional levels – are all very much to be welcomed.

“Electricians and the businesses which employ them are central to the green skills revolution. ECA, our Members and industry partners will continue to offer all the support and assistance we can to Welsh Government, Medr, Regional Skills Partnerships, and whoever else is interested in working with us to improve electrical and wider green skills outcomes in Wales.”

[edit] Conclusion and next steps

The Welsh Government expressed gratitude to contributors and committed to reviewing the findings to guide near-term actions that will strengthen Wales’s green economy. The review’s outcomes will be integrated with parallel reviews on SME Productivity and Artificial Intelligence to ensure coordinated and coherent policy delivery, supporting a greener, more resilient, and future-ready Welsh workforce.

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