Hounslow Council and its partners have secured more than £200,000 in funding to bring new training opportunities to the borough that could lead to new green jobs.
Published: Tuesday, 6th December 2022
The funding is from the Mayor of London’s £18m Skills Bootcamp pot, and will provide environmental skills training in land management and arboriculture (caring for trees and shrubs).
The Council is working alongside Lampton GreenSpace 360, Hounslow Highways, and environmental contracting company Maydencroft, to present the course.
The first course will begin on Monday, 9 January, and will last for four weeks. It will be based at Hounslow Council’s Adult Education classrooms and run from Monday to Friday between 10am and 2pm.
Hounslow Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate, Environment and Transport Strategy, Councillor Katherine Dunne said: “This is great news for our borough and a real testament to the work with our green partners to achieve this level of funding.
“Our ambition is to provide more opportunities for residents of our borough in the rapidly growing green jobs sector. This Green Skills Bootcamp is a perfect example.
"People attending this course will learn valuable practical outdoor skills which will boost their chances of getting a job.
“We look forward to welcoming our first batch of trainees taking their first steps towards a new green career.”
There are spaces for 12 trainees on the first course. There will be a second course for a further 12 trainees in February 2023. As well as classroom-based studies, the trainees will receive hands-on experience in tree-planting, aftercare, and how to spot diseases at sites across the borough.
The trainees will be supported with making connections within the industry. Every trainee taking part in the course will be guaranteed a job interview at the end.
Simon Shewry, who is Director of Commercial and Transformational Services at Lampton Community Services, said: “Greenspace and the whole Lampton Group are committed to supporting local people with new skills and enhanced employment opportunities through our Lampton Academy. The Green Skills Bootcamp responds to an acute skills gap particularly in tree surgery, and secure job opportunities await successful participants.”
The Council and its partners are keen for the course to be as inclusive as possible, which is why it is part-time for people with childcare and other responsibilities. There will also be help available with childcare and travel costs.
Martin Clack, Divisional Director from Hounslow Highways, said: “Hounslow Highways is delighted to work alongside the Council and GreenSpace to deliver this much needed educational project. We look forward to working with and welcoming the new trainees to the interactive courses to enhance and develop their green skills and provide opportunity in this sector.”
Sam Eagling Fernandez, Regional Director at Maydencroft, said: “We are so proud to be a part of The Green Skills Bootcamp. We have created a selection of unique green skills training courses that we feel address a skill shortage in the green sector. Together with the London Borough of Hounslow, we will be working to provide green jobs for local constituents.
“Our Contracts Managers are looking forward to interviewing candidates once they reach the end of their 4-week placement, and we wish each of the candidates the best of luck. The green sector is one you can be proud to say you are a part of. You will work to protect our planet and make a difference for future generations”.
The Green Skills Bootcamp is aimed at Hounslow residents aged 19 or above who are currently unemployed or in receipt of means-tested benefits.
For more information, or to apply for the Bootcamp, please contact skillsescalator@workhounslow.gov.uk, or visit https://workhounslow.co.uk/news/56/28-Nov-2022/land-management-and-arboriculture-bootcamp
