As part of our blog post series for London Climate Action Week, Toby Harding explores why upskilling across the city will be a must for achieving net zero
London is now facing the real impacts of climate change.
In recent years, the Capital has been especially affected by flash flooding, with vital infrastructure unable to cope with excess water. While we are on the path to net zero and making great strides towards a sustainable future, this work must go hand in hand with resilience planning, to address the climate challenges we face now. This action is not just about infrastructure; it is about people. As a city, collaboration is essential; businesses and the government must work together with local communities to achieve tangible and effective impact.
London is brimming with potential with a younger-than-average population, especially in Inner London, where over 1 in 5 people are aged 25 ēĉ34, compared to almost 1 in 8 elsewhere according to .
Meanwhile, the “green economy” is booming compared with other sectors in the Capital, meaning there is no shortage of demand for green expertise. There is a well-recognised shortage of green skills when it comes to environmental sustainability and resilience.
So, the question is, how do we attract workers to meet this demand and create a more resilient London?
WSP have advocated for the promotion of green skills alongside key groups such as 91 and other partners, aiming to build an inclusive and green workforce, in line with the recently published London Local Skills Plan (LSIP).
From training for all, cutting jargon to quality delivery, the LSIP sets out a blueprint to ensure London is the capital for green skills. Crucially it includes making green skills part of every job, not just those typically associated with sustainability.
The key to addressing the shortage lies in creating accessibility in the job market. Apprenticeships provide a fantastic opportunity to provide accessibility. They offer a practical, inclusive route into the workforce, helping young people and career changers alike to gain hands-on experience while learning the technical and sustainability knowledge needed for the jobs of the future.
In London, this matters more than ever. The capital faces a dual challenge: delivering its climate commitments while ensuring that the benefits of the green economy are shared across communities. Apprenticeships can help bridge this gap. They support social mobility, diversify the talent pipeline, and ensure that the transition to net zero is not only fast, but fair. By embedding sustainability into every role and making apprenticeships a key pipeline for future talent, we can address the city’s pressing green skills gap head-on.
At WSP, we’ve seen how this plays out in practice. Our apprentices work on everything from ecology and biodiversity net gain to low-carbon and resilient transport planning. As well as gaining hands-on experience, they bring fresh perspectives to our teams that are invaluable. This London Climate Action Week, our early career professionals, including apprentices and graduates, are hosting a workshop exploring global climate innovations, with a focus on water resilience.
By creating spaces for these discussions and collaboration, our early career professionals hope to take the learnings of projects around the world to address the unique challenges London faces.
As London navigates the realities of a changing climate, the need for a skilled, adaptable, and inclusive workforce becomes ever more urgent. Green skills and apprenticeships are not just tools for economic growth — they are essential to building a city that can withstand and respond to environmental challenges. By investing in people, especially the next generation, and by creating accessible pathways into meaningful work, we lay the foundations for a more resilient, equitable, and climate-ready London.