"It’s incredibly positive that young people are actively looking to build a green career and are keen to join organisations that are focused on helping people become more sustainable. Industries that are working towards net zero are already creating thousands of exciting new jobs that deliver personal and professional fulfilment."

- Chris Norbury, CEO of E.ON UK

• Green jobs are on the rise as almost half (46%) of young people aged 16-24 say they will forego traditional higher education because they want to go straight into a green job, according to E.ON’s latest research 
  
• The majority (60%) of school leavers (16-18 year olds) say they want to go straight into employment to get a head start in their career and almost half (44%) believe a degree apprenticeship is the best path to starting a green career
• However more than half (51%) of young people (those aged 16-24) believe their personal climate actions would be scrutinised if they worked in a green job and a further 40% believe green jobs must take place outside in nature 
• Official figures also show 430,000 students expressed an interest in apprenticeship opportunities via UCAS in 2023 – a 180% increase since 2021

New research1 conducted by energy and sustainable solutions provider E.ON shows that almost two thirds (60%) of school leavers (those aged 16-18) are considering apprenticeships or going straight into work to get a head start in their career, instead of traditional higher education like university.  

School leavers are questioning the need to go to university, with two in three (66%) claiming the cost of traditional higher education is too high.

Green jobs are the future

There is now a cohort of young people seeking ‘green jobs’ with almost half (46%) saying they will bypass traditional higher education because they want to work in a green job now and seven in 10 (71%) stating they want a green job so they can play their part in taking climate action.

The research also shows that young people are often put off from applying for green jobs due to misconceptions such as thinking their own personal climate actions would be scrutinised if they had a green job (51%), believing green jobs must take place in outside in nature (40%) or thinking green jobs don’t pay very well (39%).

When asked about barriers to getting a green job, young people said there was a lack of information on the options available (43%) and they thought higher education was needed to secure a green job (40%).

Chris Norbury, CEO of E.ON UK, said: “It’s incredibly positive that young people are actively looking to build a green career and are keen to join organisations that are focused on helping people become more sustainable. Industries that are working towards net zero are already creating thousands of exciting new jobs that deliver personal and professional fulfilment for people all over the UK.

“We’re leading the way with roles across our organisation focused on helping people become more sustainable in their homes, businesses and communities. One example is our degree apprenticeship scheme which offers opportunities for young people to develop their passion for sustainability and sets them on the path to a successful and rewarding career."

Degree apprenticeships

Traditional higher education may no longer be the preferred path for UK school leavers, as 63% of 16-18 year olds believe they will develop workplace skills a lot quicker by going straight into the workplace or undertaking an apprenticeship.

Instead, degree apprenticeships – where people earn as they learn within an organisation while undertaking a degree which is paid for by their employer – are becoming increasingly appealing to young Brits. Almost half (48%) of young people believe a degree apprenticeship is the best path to starting a green career after school, compared to just 29% who think traditional higher education such as university would help them secure a green job.

Official figures show that in 2023, 430,000 students expressed an interest in apprenticeship opportunities via UCAS – a 180% increase since 2021. What’s more, about 40% of UCAS applicants now say they would consider an apprenticeship.

Helen Tupper, expert career adviser, bestselling author of ‘The Squiggly Career’ and co-founder of ‘Amazing If’ podcast, comments: “Starting your career can feel daunting when there are so many decisions to make about what to do and where to do it. However, there’s no longer a default for what ‘good’ career development looks like which means younger generations have more freedom to progress their careers in ways that work for them.

“Apprenticeships are a great example of how Millennials and Gen Z are beginning to determine their own development, allowing them to learn quickly and develop their skills in a variety of roles. With sustainability and climate considerations high on the agenda for younger generations, apprenticeships within organisations that are focused on these areas are helping people to combine their purpose with their progression.”

• E.ON’s apprenticeships are focused on ensuring apprentices develop the skills and knowledge needed to create a sustainable future and to thrive at any career stage, whether entry level, middle management or Senior Leadership Programme. Its degree apprenticeships provide a paid route into higher education.
•  E.ON currently has almost 200 apprentices working on over 50 different schemes and offers a range of degree apprenticeships such as Engineering, Project Management and Supply Chain Leadership, as well as lower level apprenticeships in customer service, accountancy, HR, legal and cyber security among others.
• To find out more about E.ON’s degree apprenticeships and other apprenticeship schemes, visit E.ON Careers.  

Notes to Editors:

A green job refers to any job that has a positive impact on the planet, including working for a sustainable company, jobs with environmentally conscious credentials and jobs in the circular economy (contributing towards repairing our resources and acting more sustainably).

• Research carried out on behalf of E.ON by 3Gem 2023, surveying 2,000 16-24 year olds in the UK.
• Data supplied by UCAS

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