The Green Skills Gap: How JLR is Growing Sustainable Careers

According to The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, green skills is “the knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to reduce the environmental impact of human activity." 

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) believes that one of the most pressing challenges in the global transition to sustainability is the lack of these green skills.

To tackle this, JLR is planning on investing in education, outreach and development in the workforce, all in order to help the future generations feel equipped for the net zero future.

The evolving vehicle economy

When creating vehicles, companies now consider electrification, clean energy and the circular economy more often when designing and manufacturing them. 

Due to these becoming more frequent, it is now more essential that education adapts to ensure that people learn the relevant and up to date information.

According to LinkedIn’s Staff Data Scientist, Akash Kaura, in his paper ‘Understanding the Green Transition’, the global demand for green talent has increased with a 5.9% average between 2021 and 2024.

Akash’s data shows that the following countries had the highest amount of demand: 

• United Kingdom: 13%
• Ireland: 12.4%
• Saudi Arabia: 11.7%
• Norway: 11.6%
• Switzerland: 11.5%. 

The following countries showed the highest growth rates from 2023 to 2024:

• Portugal: +71.3%
• United Kingdom: +46%
• Costa Rica: +40%
• Singapore: +27.1%
• Luxembourg: +27%.

Akash’s data shows that if green skills are left unaddressed, the gap is projected to reach more than 50% by 2050.

To help avoid this, JLR is implementing strategies across schools, universities and its own workforce to help provide career pathways and “broaden the talent pool”.

“Sustainability starts with education and we’re proud to be investing in programmes that empower young people, inspire future changemakers and help build a talent pipeline that supports our transition to net zero,” says Andrea Debbane, Chief Sustainability Officer at JLR.

“Sustainability has implications for all corners of our business ‑ from finance and design to engineering and manufacturing. 

“It’s critical that students are adequately prepared with applied knowledge of sustainability principles so they can tackle the challenges we face in the real world.”

From early years to higher education

By collaborating with education providers, JLR helps them adapt their curriculums to match the rapidly changing landscape through real-world insights and application.

JLR recently supported the development of a new Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability for post-16 students seeking to develop specialist applied knowledge and skills in sustainability. 

Created in partnership with Cambridge OCR, the qualification complements A Levels and other Level 3 programmes. 

It can also be taken by those already in employment to support career development. 

“Our collaboration with JLR demonstrates what’s possible when educators and industry leaders come together with a shared purpose,” says Christine Özden, Global Director, Climate Education, Cambridge University Press & Assessment. 

“The new Cambridge OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability gives students the chance to build knowledge and understanding and develop practical, future‑focused skills grounded in real‑world application. 

“At a time when green skills are in high demand, we’re proud to support learners in building the capabilities they need today and the confidence to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. 

“This qualification ensures learners are equipped not just to understand the transition to net zero, but to actively drive it.”

Through the Create Possible platform, JLR provides access to a free curriculum-linked education programme for secondary schools. 

All sustainability, net zero and sustainable supply chain leaders should attend:

• Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5
• Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22

Co-located with Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, these events brings together CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected.

Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available.

This initiative offers hands-on learning and real-world problem-solving resources, with one in five challenges focused directly on sustainability to encourage climate-conscious thinking and make green careers accessible to all.

JLR also collaborates with universities to integrate real-world sustainability challenges into course materials, enabling students to explore innovative solutions that could later be applied across product development and operations. 

For example, MBA students at the University of Exeter have developed proposals focused on circular economy solutions, while PhD students funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council work directly with JLR engineering teams on sustainability-related projects.

Building sustainable careers

JLR is inspiring the next generation by strengthening links between education, sustainability and the future of manufacturing and supply chain innovation. 

Alongside curriculum support and educational resources, its school outreach scheme sees more than 1,000 STEM and Campus Ambassadors share their personal journeys and career pathways, promoting sustainability across engineering, production and logistics. 

The programme reached more than 130,000 school and university students during the 2024–2025 academic year.

For students aged 14–18, JLR offers a Virtual Work Experience programme, an 8.5-hour course that includes modules on circularity and green skills applied in authentic manufacturing and supply chain scenarios.

Nearly 9,000 students have completed the programme in the last two years, gaining insight into how sustainability is embedded across operations, product development and responsible sourcing.

JLR is also building clear career pathways through its early careers programme, which includes apprenticeships and graduate schemes with sustainability-focused learning.

Supply Chain and Logistics degree apprentices explore circular supply chains and resource-efficient distribution models, while Level 7 Finance apprentices develop skills in environmental reporting, governance and corporate social responsibility.

Participants are also encouraged to tackle real operational and sustainability challenges through JLR’s annual internal Graduate Innovation Challenge, which has seen sustainability-based projects more than double in the last three years.

Beyond early careers, the Future Skills programme supports upskilling and reskilling initiatives to prepare employees for the transition to electrification and sustainable mobility, ensuring manufacturing and supply chain teams are equipped for the demands of a low-carbon industrial future.

Closing the green skills gap remains both an industry challenge and a strategic priority, as a skilled workforce is essential to achieving climate targets, accelerating innovation and ensuring long-term economic resilience.