“This is our opportunity” – Speakers at inaugural Greenprint Conference call out for green skills

For years Greenprint has been building a framework to position the Solent as a centre for green skills with a world-leading environment and economy.

But last week the group were granted their largest public platform yet to share this vision with more than 100 business, community, local authority, and education leaders at the first ever Greenprint Conference.

Hosted by the University of Southampton, the conference was a chance to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with developing green skills in the region, as guests heard from expert speakers and attended workshop sessions.

Chair of Greenprint Alison Barnes told attendees: “This is our opportunity to be at the forefront of international and national agendas on climate, nature, and the green economy, as well as delivering for our own communities.

“Greenprint is about collaborating and broadening our conversations to activate our potential – to galvanise and enthuse partners, organisations, and individuals to work together and drive the change.

“We need to build a future workforce which can seize the opportunities offered by innovation in key sectors, including zero carbon economy, land management and the visitor economy.”

She was joined at the event by Professor Mark Spearing, Vice President of the University of Southampton, as well as Cllr Seán Woodward, Leader of Fareham Borough Council.

Together they watched on as a group of students from Mayfield School in Portsmouth shared their initiative for a solar and wind powered electric car charging point.

Visitors also heard from a panel of speakers including David Hutchinson, Innovation and Impact Development Manager at the University of Portsmouth.

David said: “What Greenprint has created is a framework, a way of bringing people together and giving them a focus but not telling them what direction to go in.

“The next step now is all about action.

“There is a genuine opportunity for our region, with our world class people and innovative organisations, to make a real difference both here and further afield.

“It’s time to mobilise ourselves to actually do something for the future of the Solent.”

David shared the panel with Cllr Satvir Kaur, Leader of Southampton City Council.

She added: “Greenprint is an important opportunity to bring all the right people together to push for change.

“Southampton has huge ambitions to be a greener and more sustainable City, both socially and economically, bringing in more investment and creating new jobs in our region.

“It’s vitally important that we take local people with us on this journey. Change is only achievable if we all work together.”

Greenprint’s framework comprises five key priorities, which are to achieve net zero with nature; improve health and wellbeing through nature; develop world-class blue and green environments; create great places through design and build quality; and become a centre for excellence in green skills and jobs.

They’re now looking to ‘feed forward’ the ideas stemming from this year’s conference to start bringing about positive change in the region.

• push.gov.uk/greenprint