Pathways to work in net zero showcased at West Midlands skills fair

The Acivico Group, who provide a range of construction related services to clients across the Birmingham region, used engaging, hands-on activities to show youngsters the types of jobs available to them in the future at the annual ‘Inspiring the Black Country’ event.

The building consultancy firm used the opportunity to illustrate their work in improving the energy efficiency and decreasing the impact on the environment on the buildings that they work on.

This was shown through a demo Wendy house which contains solar panels, an air source heat pump and wall insulation. The house, provided by the ‘Balsall Heath is our Planet’ project, provided a first hand look at how retrofit can help to lower a home’s energy costs and help to save the planet.

They also showcased what transferable skills and subject knowledge are required to land a future role working in retrofit and sustainability management.

Earlier this year, the Acivico Group picked up the Retrofit Social Value Award for their work delivering a £7 million programme of works to retrofit nearly 700 properties across Birmingham.

Marina Robertson, Managing Director at the Acivico Group, said:“As the UK transitions to a net zero future, opportunities to work in the sustainable construction industry will inevitably grow and we want to showcase to the next generation how they can get on the right career ladder.

“We believe in empowering local communities to recognise the importance of sustainability and retrofit and this includes youngsters who will one day become the leading voices in our sector. I hope our presence at the Inspiring the Black Country event gave plenty of students some positive career aspirations and a good representation of the worthwhile work that we do each and every day.”

The event looked to showcase local industry, provide an insight into the world of work and allow hundreds of young people to make informed decisions about their future subject selection and how they relate to the modern workplace.

It also aimed to reflect the local labour market and showcase the strong variety of employers in the Black Country and Birmingham region.

The event was hosted by the Black Country Careers Hub, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), together with the Careers and Enterprise Company.

Jessica Murray, Assistant Delivery Manager at the Black Country Skills Hub, said:“This is our third year running the Inspiring the Black country event and we’re pleased to see that over 800 young people have once again had the opportunity to learn more about the businesses and career paths local to them.

“The event allowed young people to understand the world of work and identify real roles that are available in the future. By providing key insights, we are enabling our next generation of workforce and talent to understand the skills and qualities that are required by our employers.”