Jake Snell, a 19-year-old from Lowestoft, is an exemplary candidate for a position in the rapidly expanding green energy sector in the UK. He has achieved excellent results in his A-levels for mathematics and physics, earned distinctions in both a BTec engineering course and an extended engineering diploma, and gained practical experience through an engineering firm internship.
Lowestoft, located in Suffolk near Great Yarmouth, is part of a broader trend of coastal regions suffering from high deprivation rates, with both towns falling within the most economically challenged 20% in England. These areas struggle with limited job prospects, contributing to a cycle of poverty and underperformance in education compared to more affluent inland communities.
Since his secondary school days, Snell has aspired to contribute to the green energy “revolution,” a sector that the government is actively fostering as part of its economic recovery strategy. Recently, Ed Miliband announced that Labour aims to create training opportunities for an additional 400,000 green jobs by 2030, focusing on wind, nuclear, and electricity networks to uplift coastal and former industrial communities, offering salaries above the national average.
In the coming year, the Guardian’s Seascape team will be conducting a project called Against the Tide, which will explore the experiences of young people in coastal communities throughout England and Wales. Many youths in these areas are more likely to encounter poverty, inadequate housing, and limited educational and job opportunities compared to their inland counterparts. In the most deprived coastal towns, residents often contend with deteriorating public services and transportation, which further restrict their options for advancement.
With the support of documentary photographer Polly Braden, the project will involve visiting port towns, seaside resorts, and former fishing villages to engage with individuals aged 16 to 25, encouraging them to share their stories and perspectives on their communities. By prioritizing their voices, the initiative aims to identify the changes necessary for these young people to achieve their desired futures.
For Snell, the pathway appeared straightforward: pursue STEM subjects in college and seek apprenticeships instead of attending university. “We were all informed that our educational institutions had strong ties to the industry and that numerous projects were on the horizon,” he explains.
In his region, rich in wind energy potential, opportunities seem almost within reach. The East of England boasts 44% of the UK’s offshore wind farms, with Lowestoft’s Ness Point turbine, affectionately nicknamed “Gulliver,” symbolizing future prospects. Meanwhile, Great Yarmouth has been designated as the pre-assembly site for a £4 billion offshore wind farm project.
However, after completing his extended diploma, Snell discovered that out of his cohort of 14, only two secured apprenticeships, with just one in the engineering field. “It was quite disheartening,” Snell admits. “Many of my friends, who initially preferred apprenticeships over university, are now compelled to go to university because they feel they have no other choice.”
It is understandable why political leaders advocate for green jobs as a solution to economic challenges in post-industrial areas and as a means to address concerns about net-zero initiatives. Yet, experts assert that more effort is necessary to create tangible opportunities for youth in these regions.
According to Rachel Wilde, a social anthropologist at University College London, who is studying green job awareness in Great Yarmouth, the term “green jobs” lacks clarity and concrete definitions. “There seems to be a disconnect between policymakers eager to highlight new economic prospects and the realities faced by young individuals considering their future job options,” she notes. “There isn’t much cohesive strategy at present.”
Wilde has collaborated with organizations promoting careers in the renewable sector and observes that while high-paying positions like wind technicians receive substantial attention, these roles do not represent the majority of available jobs. “The government and certain industries are leading people to believe that there are numerous high-profile jobs, but the reality is that the apprenticeships and training for those roles are highly competitive,” she states.
This issue is particularly relevant in coastal regions, where educational outcomes tend to be lower. However, Avril Keating, a professor of youth studies at UCL and leader of the Coastal Youth Life Chances project, views this as an opportunity rather than a setback. “It’s essential to consider what ‘green jobs’ entail,” she explains. “These roles are intended to revitalize disadvantaged communities and help individuals re-enter the workforce. But are these positions suitable for the local population?”
Keating emphasizes the diverse range of roles in the green energy sector, which can include support positions such as catering, security, and logistics. Nevertheless, this crucial aspect of the green industry is often overlooked, according to both Wilde and Keating, who advocate for increased investment in ongoing career support for residents of coastal and economically disadvantaged areas.
Polly Billington, the MP for East Thanet and chair of the coastal parliamentary Labour party, concurs that more actions are necessary to ensure coastal communities can benefit from a future driven by green energy.
