Bridging the Gap to Green Careers: Our Journey with Guest Speakers
When we first launched the Introduction to Green Employment course, one of our primary goals was to invite guest speakers who could not only inspire our learners but also provide valuable insights into their respective fields. We wanted our learners to hear directly from professionals about their career pathways and how they found their way into their current roles. This approach has been incredibly motivating, particularly when we hear stories of individuals who, despite not having backgrounds in climate or sustainability, have pursued these fields out of passion.
One of the most inspiring aspects of these talks is learning about the transferable skills that guest speakers have gained from their previous roles. These stories reinforce an important message: Anyone can be an environmentalist, regardless of their background. The diversity of experiences shows that there is no single path to making an impact in sustainability—it’s about what you bring from your unique journey.
We also ask our guest speakers to highlight the essential skills needed in their fields, as well as the emerging jobs and opportunities in the sector. This helps our learners better understand what to expect as we transition to a greener economy and opens their eyes to the wide array of possibilities in the sustainability sector. Sometimes guest speakers come from fields which our learners haven’t heard from before and this initial form of contact not only demystifies their sector or their work but opens up opportunities for individuals to be able to consider new potentials.
At the beginning we only had one individual come to the lesson to give a presentation about their work however we quickly saw the immense value in connecting learners with professionals in the field. So, we made the decision to dedicate the third class of each cohort to hosting several guest speakers. This not only bridges the gap between learners and the sector but also personalises the field, giving learners a safe and open space to ask questions they might not have the chance to elsewhere.
At the end of each class, we ask our learners what they would like to know more about. We then do our best to connect the fields of interest expressed by previous cohorts with the current group, ensuring that the content is as lived experience-led as possible. We are running our final Introduction to Green Employment course, and a few weeks ago, we had the privilege of hosting our last three guest speakers for this cohort. We are grateful for the opportunity to have welcomed such inspiring professionals:
Gary (Operations Manager) from Bristol Energy Network shared his varied career journey into BEN and how his transferable skills landed him in his role. Gary discussed the incredible work BEN is doing to help communities access better energy services, as well as their innovative projects around community-owned energy. This led to engaging conversations and highlighted how energy-related issues affect us all—whether we own or rent our homes—and how we can combat them. Gary spoke about how BEN supports individuals to become energy champions. It was really insightful and empowering for clients to learn how an evidence-based approach can support individuals to take action in their own homes related to energy efficiency and sustainability.
Emily (Climate Change Co-ordinator) from Bristol City Council Sustainable City and Climate Change Service Team spoke about her path into the sector. She began her career in central government, supporting heat pump policy, and now works at the City Council to promote the decarbonisation of homes. Emily shared valuable information about local government approaches to tackling climate change, signposted training opportunities, and helped our learners understand the technical vocabulary that will be increasingly important in the years ahead. This early exposure is crucial for ensuring that our learners are well-equipped to enter the sector and engage with the wider community.
Jess (Relationship Manager) from Triodos Bank, a returning guest speaker, highlighted the bank’s work in championing sustainable financial ventures and supporting communities. Jess has previously spoken about her role at Triodos, and both times she has visited our course, our learners have been amazed by the bank’s innovative approach to investing in sustainability, particularly with the pioneering work they are doing around biodiversity net gain and prioritizing environmental and social impact with profit in mind. In particular, Jess’s talk helped frame the ongoing conversations in our course about development often being driven by profit at the expense of nature and communities. It was inspiring to see how Triodos is challenging that norm and doing things differently.
At the end of the session, during our debrief, the learners expressed how inspired they felt by the work being done in these organizations. While we all agree that we’re still far from reaching the idealized ‘green utopia’ we hope for, the passion, intention, and progress of these organizations towards a net-zero future is incredibly uplifting.
However, despite the enthusiasm, many of our learners continue to face challenges when trying to break into the sector. There is a clear desire to contribute to the solution, yet accessing opportunities remains a hurdle for many. If you're an employer looking to support individuals from our community, we would love to hear from you. Whether you’re interested in providing work experience, offering placements, or partnering with us through our Bridge to Employment programme, which helps individuals access sustainable employment, we’re eager to collaborate and make these connections happen.
Please contact jah.caballero@ach.org.uk to find out how to work with us!
