The Green Space Skills Hub connects job seekers with leading employers while addressing skill gaps, unemployment and emergency climate needs.
—
By Rachel Davies, Groundwork London
Urban green spaces are increasingly recognized as essential climate infrastructure. In cities like London, green spaces not only provide Londoners with space for community, health and wellbeing but they also support our response to the climate emergency and the city’s economy. Maintaining these benefits, however, requires a workforce with the right skills.
The Green Space Skills Hub (GSSH) launched in 2023 as part of the Mayor’s Skills Academies Programme (2023–2026). Led by the charity Groundwork London, in partnership with Parks for London and Capel Manor College, the program champions green space jobs for London’s future and a greener economy, connecting job seekers with leading employers while addressing skill gaps, unemployment and emergency climate needs.
“If we are serious about realizing the many benefits that London’s parks, green & blue infrastructure can deliver for people, nature, and the environment, then we need to get serious about attracting and retaining the next generation of talent into the sector,” said Ed Stannard, Executive Director at Parks for London.
An earlier perception report by the Hub found widespread misconceptions about jobs in the sector, with challenges around diversity and representation affecting women, young people, and individuals from global majority backgrounds.
Since then, the GSSH has helped nearly 4,000 Londoners access training opportunities and supported around 1,000 unemployed people into green space jobs, all within a network of more than 200 employers across the sector.
Now, new funding of £346,000 (US$458,000) from the National Lottery will allow Groundwork London’s Green Space Skills Hub to continue and expand its support to jobseekers and employers, moving towards a more recognizable, inclusive career sector of choice. Thanks to this new funding, the next three years will see GSSH promote and improve accessibility and awareness of London’s green space jobs for everyone – from parks and horticulture to landscape management and sustainable drainage systems.
“The Green Space Skills Hub plays an important role in helping more Londoners discover these careers and access the training and opportunities available across the sector,” said Sam Black, Assistant Principal – Employer Skills, Innovation & Growth at Capel Manor College, which is “committed to developing the skilled workforce needed to care for the capital’s parks, gardens and green infrastructure.”
As cities expand their green infrastructure to meet climate and biodiversity goals, programs like the Green Space Skills Hub are taking root, highlighting the growing, essential link between environmental regeneration and a diverse, skilled workforce.“We’re delighted that the National Lottery is supporting us to attract more Londoners from all backgrounds into the workforce and develop their skills to protect, maintain and enhance our environment now and for the future,” said Lindy Kelly, Executive Director of Groundwork London.
