‘Full support’: Opposition councillors back Town Hall’s green jobs drive – but stress need for extra cash

Cllr Carole Williams (left of centre) and Mayor Caroline Woodley (centre) with partners at the launch of the new training facility. Photograph: Hackney Council

Opposition councillors have signalled their support for Hackney Council’s new ‘green jobs hub’ – but said they hope to see it given more funding.

The Town Hall last week announced the launch of a new training scheme to equip residents with the skills needed to access “good-quality green jobs”.

In a press release, Hackney’s mayor Caroline Woodley said the scheme aimed to “unlock significant economic and social opportunities, not least of all a more inclusive economy – an economy that works for all our residents”.

The borough’s employment chief, Carole Williams, told the Citizen that the council wants to teach 200 people how to retrofit and install insulation over the next two years.

The jobs hub is part of the Town Hall’s wider goal to achieve net-zero by 2040, and will focus on engaging young people, women and those from “disadvantaged backgrounds”.

Cllr Williams had earlier raised the fact that women comprise just 14 per cent of the construction workforce.

“The numbers are even lower for ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and local young people in Hackney and London,” she said.

She added the Town Hall has set a minimum target of securing 60 jobs for each year’s 100-strong cohort.

Green co-leaders Zoë Garbett and Alastair Binnie-Lubbock. Photograph: Josef Steen / free for use by LDRS partners

Co-leader of Hackney’s Green group, Cllr Zoë Garbett, said she and her colleagues were in “full support” of the initiative.

She welcomed it as a “positive first step” for the borough, but said the Greens hoped to see more cash pumped into the scheme.

“To truly meet the scale of need for skilled professionals in greener construction and the broader green transition, we hope to see increased funding and look forward to seeing the comprehensive outreach strategy targeting under-represented groups.”

The jobs hub will be supported by Stratford’s Build East Skills Centre, where learners will receive retrofit courses and get hands-on training and work experience with local employers.

Alongside the number of learners moving into further training, apprenticeships or employment, the Town Hall said it would also measure the project’s success based on how many businesses get involved.

Skills Centre CEO Jon Howlin said schemes like this one could “transform lives” and would not only build careers but also address the growing skills shortage while creating “a more sustainable industry”.

“Both the council and The Skills Centre recognise that strong employer partnerships are essential to ensuring residents can transition from training into real job opportunities,” Cllr Williams added.

This will include engaging with local and London-wide green employers to identify skills gaps and align training with workforce needs.

Cllr Williams said the council was also exploring partnerships with “specialist” green sector employers and organisations to develop new routes into sustainable careers.