|
With the global climate change summit taking place in Copenhagen this month, there is little doubt that the UK will need to speed up its transition to a low carbon economy. The question is: do we have what it takes to make this move a prosperous one? While bold political leadership is imperative, we all have a part to play. There are small changes each one of us can make. These include insulating our homes, recycling and using energy efficient lightbulbs. But this is not enough. What our country needs is a radical shift in mindset. A “new industrial revolution” Brits should start supporting more businesses with green principles, consider saving up for electric cars and encourage their children to learn green skills. Educational institutions need to introduce more courses that will ensure younger generations are better prepared to build our low carbon future. And companies need to do what they can to invest in green skills and new technologies. Their success may soon depend on it. According to recent government data, the UK is currently home to 50,000 firms that employ an estimated 880,000 people in the low carbon market. However, to fully take advantage of a sector that is worth some £3 trillion worldwide, the UK needs to prepare for what Ian Lucas, Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform, has called “a new industrial revolution”. Britain requires a staggering amount of investment from both the public and private sectors to build the skills it needs to drive low carbon research, innovation and manufacturing. Going nuclear While many argue that wind and wave power are the UK’s greatest assets when it comes to clean energy supply, a significant amount of investment is being channelled into nuclear energy. In addition to the 10 nuclear power stations bring built across the country, two new nuclear technology facilities are to be established in South Yorkshire. The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) in Catcliffe will bring together industrial expertise from firms like aerospace giant Rolls Royce and research skills from the universities of Sheffield and Manchester. Its aim is to be a hub for the development of innovative manufacturing techniques, reports BBC News. Another facility in the area, built by Rolls-Royce, will manufacture and test components for new nuclear power stations. Together, these ventures are expected to create around 500 new jobs in the UK, with hundreds more positions opening up in decades to come. According to Tom Riordan, chief executive of regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, the UK's nuclear programme will create over 4,500 engineering jobs over the next 25 years. Low carbon cars Another growth area for the UK is the low carbon vehicle industry. New electric and hybrid technologies provide a lucrative opportunity for our automotive industry, but we’ll need to boost our research and engineering skills to make the most of it. Speaking at a car industry conference recently, Ian Lucas said the government had pledged over £400m to accelerate the transition to ultra-low carbon vehicles in the UK. This funding will also go towards encouraging the uptake of these vehicles when they come to market. “This includes customer incentives of between £2,000 and £5,000 a vehicle from 2011, when we expect these vehicles to come onto the market in volume,” he said. The global automotive industry has also stepped up to the plate. Toyota has announced plans to build its Auris hybrid in Derbyshire, while Nissan will manufacture batteries for its Leaf in Sunderland. While this is only just the beginning, it’s clear that with enough financial support to boost vital skills and technology, the UK can realise its potential as a low carbon nation. This will not only help us meet our climate change goals, but chart a bright new course for our economy. With Careers and Jobs, you can view all the latest jobs in the UK, browse UK jobs by sector, including engineering jobs, and keep up to date with the latest UK jobs news. You’ll also find expert career advice and help with CV writing to help land that dream job.
Related Articles -
jobs in the uk, engineering jobs,
| 
