Sustainability challenge in the Highlands will boost young workforce skills
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Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Zero Waste Scotland, and business transformation enterprise, Fuel Change are teaming up to launch a region-wide sustainability challenge to boost young workforce skills.
The Fuel Change Highlands and Islands Challenge sets teams of young people real world problems based around sustainability themes. Fully funded places are open to participants from Highlands and Islands businesses, community organisations, charities and UHI students.
The challenge, which will start at the end of April and is open to ages 16 to 24, aims to encourage a positive mindset and practical skills to develop new, innovative, net zero and circular solutions. In addition, the challenge provides an opportunity for businesses, charities and other organisations in the region to network and collaborate, helping to create a more integrated and connected workforce.
Keith Masson, head of net zero transition at HIE, said: “We’d love to see as many businesses as possible get involved from across the region. Over the course of the 16-week programme, the teams work together through a mentored problem-solving process, and develop sustainable solutions as well as meta skills - along the way.
“The programme offers organisations the perfect ready-made opportunity to skill-up and inspire workers to impact both their own future, and their enterprise’s approach to net zero.“
Helen Lavery, partner at Zero Waste Scotland, says the project is also looking for industry input.
She commented: “This landmark project brings stakeholders together from across the Highlands and Islands to unite on what is the most pressing challenge facing us today. Putting our businesses and communities at the heart of transition is vital. As well as signing up to take part, local businesses and organisations can help shape the challenges, or be ambassadors or mentors for some of the teams who sign up.”
Potential themes for the challenges include: whisky; energy; tourism; work, rest and play in the region; and food systems.
People can get involved in the challenge in a number of ways, including:
- Enter a team into the challenge
- Get involved in helping set one of the questions
- Get involved as a mentor to one of the teams
- Get involved as a member of the judging panel at the end of the challenge
