Promoting diversity, inclusivity and clean construction begins by training present and future workers in training centres that reflect the cultural and economic diversity of a community. This community-centred approach to a just transition delivers social value by offering skills training for in-demand green jobs, setting up workers to thrive in present and future green industries. This was the main lesson at the joint learning tour organised by the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and C40 Cities Network on March 11, 2025, at The Skills Centre in the Hackney borough of London, United Kingdom.

The learning tour coincided with the opening of The Skills Centre, which was attended by various stakeholders and apprentices. BWI and C40’s VISIBLE Project facilitated this Learning Tour, through the support of Laudes Foundation.

Training for Present and Future Green Jobs

Seeking to understand how a community-centred approach to a just transition could also boost diversity and inclusivity in the construction sector, the learning tour began with a multi-stakeholder discussion at the launch of The Skills Centre. The newly built training centre is a partnership between the Hackney Council and the London Legacy Development Corporation. It specialises in retrofitting and sustainable construction.

With nearly 70,000 unemployed in East London, the borough’s unemployment rate is markedly higher than the national average. A significant portion of these unemployed individuals are young people aged 18 to 24, who mostly lack the qualifications for trade jobs. Meanwhile, an aging population of construction workers and the rising demand for retrofitting buildings means that there is a workforce gap that needs to be filled. Specifically, the UK’s Green Jobs Task Force estimates that the UK needs 230,000 trained workers by 2030 to retrofit every building in the country.

The Skills Centre aims to address this gap by providing training for young people and the unemployed in the community to be qualified for actual jobs in the market. Since 2023, their Future Skills programme has trained 3104 students, 1708 of whom have found jobs.

Green Skills Hub Tour

After the programme launch, the audience was given a brief tour of the premises, where students were being taught basic retrofitting processes. The centre seeks to reflect the cultural and economic diversity of London in construction sites by offering training programmes and apprenticeships to residents coming from neighborhoods lacking these opportunities. This means that upskilling the workforce requires changing workplace culture to become more sensitive to diverse cultural, gender and economic backgrounds.

According to The Skills Centre, the centre was built not just to guarantee skills training for green jobs but also ensure jobs retention. For many students who have not been working for an extended period or who have never set foot in a construction site, the shift from the centre to a construction site can be daunting. Without proper guidance and a support network, these workers might feel out place in these environments, causing them to quit their jobs within the first 12 weeks.

This is where trade unions could play a role in bridging the transition from the green skills hub to the construction site, according to Jon Howlin, CEO of The Skills Centre.

“Trade unions are the default mentors and coaches in the workplace. Sometimes, an apprentice might be concerned about doing something wrong and having to answer directly to a supervisor is enough to put someone off from working. Trade unions can help teach ‘soft skills’ to apprentices in navigating these kinds of situations in construction sites. Our years of knowledge and experience can help workers retain their jobs and businesses to thrive,” Stephen Craig of UNITE The Union said. 

City-level Just Transition

This learning tour demonstrated the importance of training programmes that not only aim to fill urgent workforce gaps but also promote diversity and inclusivity in construction by providing opportunities at the community level. At the same time, engaging with trade unions in these training programmes is paramount because they can teach certain ‘soft skills’ that are essential in jobs retention.

“Cities can learn many lessons from The Skills Centre. Their commitment to reflecting London’s cultural and economic diversity in construction sites means that the transition into green jobs is not only about acquiring technical skills but also about fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment,” Cecile Faraud of C40 Cities said.

The Skills Centre provides a model for other cities in promoting a just transition by integrating diversity and inclusivity into community-centred training programmes.

Key Lessons

1. Training programmes must be designed to teach skills for jobs in the present and future to ensure career longevity among workers.
2. Promoting cultural and economic diversity in construction starts by making sure that training programmes are accessible to residents from underrepresented backgrounds.
3. Trade unions can play a role in mentoring apprentices and teaching them ‘soft skills’ to help them navigate the complexities of working in a construction site and retain their jobs.