Community

Green Careers Week report urges action to make green jobs accessible to all

Published

1 month ago

November 2, 2025

National Lottery partnership reveals practical ways to break barriers and create inclusive opportunities

A NEW report published to mark Green Careers Week (Nov 3–8) has revealed that many people from underserved communities are being shut out of green jobs due to lack of experience, financial barriers and unclear career pathways.

The study — a collaboration between The National Lottery Community Fund, the UK’s largest community funder, and Greenworkx, an education technology start-up — highlights how employer recruitment practices and reliance on informal networks are preventing equal access to opportunities in the growing green economy.

According to the research, 88% of out-of-work green jobseekers said that employer demands for prior experience were the biggest barrier to entry, while 83% said that shadowing or work placements would most help them find work.

Seven key barriers identified

The report found that financial constraints, lack of awareness, unclear routes into employment and limited access to networks all compound one another — particularly for people with disabilities, new arrivals to the UK, and those already underrepresented in the workforce.

It recommends system-wide improvements through employer-led programmes, including:

job-shadowing schemes where graduates help newcomers gain experience,
clear ‘job-ready’ guides explaining what employers look for,
partnerships between employers, training providers and community groups, and
funding incentives for local green job creation.

‘Good quality green jobs are becoming available’

John Rose, Wales Director and Environment Lead at The National Lottery Community Fund, said:
“More and more good-quality green jobs are becoming available, from solar and heat pump installation to nature conservation. This report helps us understand the barriers and how to support more people into green careers.

“By working with innovative partners like Greenworkx, we’re making environmental action relevant and accessible to communities that might otherwise be left behind. Our Sustainable Steps Wales programme, for example, is helping young people with disabilities and from ethnically minoritised backgrounds into green careers, investing over £12 million in four regional partnership projects across North, West and South Wales.”

He added: “Whether through large-scale initiatives or grassroots projects, the organisations we fund can make a big impact by embedding green careers. We would urge anyone with an idea for an environmental project to visit our website and apply for funding.”

Lack of awareness still a major issue

Limited awareness of green job options remains a major obstacle. Research by WorldSkills UK found that 44% of young people don’t know what green jobs exist, while 41% are unsure what skills are required.

Community group Foothold Cymru, which works with people aged 15–30, has also found that young people are often unaware of the variety of green career paths, and that uncertainty over job security can lead parents, friends and even career advisers to steer them away from the sector.

As one young participant, Shabana (20), put it: “Nobody wants to hire you unless you have the experience — but where do you get the experience from if you don’t get hired?”

Building a resilient, inclusive workforce

The research concludes that with deliberate action and coordinated effort, the green transition can become a source of opportunity, resilience and inclusion for all.

The National Lottery Community Fund plans to use the findings to inform future programme design, while Greenworkx will expand its employer-informed pilot schemes to reach more candidates and employers nationwide.

Mat Ilic, CEO of Greenworkx, said: “At Greenworkx, we believe people are the answer to the climate emergency. The energy transition offers millions the chance of meaningful work — but only if those opportunities are accessible to everyone.

“Our partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund has gone beyond identifying barriers. We’ve developed and tested practical solutions that bridge the gap between training and employment, where challenges of confidence, readiness and recruitment are greatest.

“We hope this new report helps drive a systemic approach to green workforce development, building the skilled workforce needed to power the energy transition — and ensuring the benefits are shared by all.”

Community

Special delivery of thanks as MP visits Haverfordwest sorting office

Published

20 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Christmas cheer for posties working through the festive rush

A CHRISTMAS message of thanks was delivered in person this week as Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell paid a visit to Royal Mail staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office.

The MP met postal workers during one of the busiest periods of the year, praising staff for their hard work in ensuring cards, parcels and gifts reach homes across Pembrokeshire in the run-up to Christmas.

Mr Tufnell said postal workers were going “above and beyond” throughout the year, but particularly during the festive period when demand is at its highest and delivery rounds are often made in challenging weather conditions.

He described postal staff as “unsung heroes”, highlighting their role in keeping communities connected and helping families stay in touch at a time when it matters most.

Speaking after the visit, Mr Tufnell said: “Our posties play a vital role in our community, and at Christmas that importance is felt more than ever. They work incredibly hard to make sure gifts and cards from loved ones arrive safely and on time.”

Staff at the Haverfordwest site were pictured alongside the MP, with some embracing the festive spirit in Christmas jumpers and seasonal outfits while continuing their daily work.

The MP also extended his thanks to postal workers across the whole of Pembrokeshire, acknowledging the dedication required to keep services running smoothly during the seasonal rush.

Royal Mail experiences its highest parcel volumes in December, with thousands of additional items passing through local sorting offices each day as Christmas approaches.

Delivering Christmas cheer: Henry Tufnell MP with staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office during a festive visit (Pic: Facebook).

Charity

Haverfordwest businesswomen launch 2026 charity calendar.

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Bold fundraiser aims to boost breast cancer support and celebrate local female entrepreneurs

HAVERFORDWEST Business Women have launched their 2026 charity calendar, with 100% of profits from every sale being donated to breast cancer charities.

The calendar, revealed this week, features a striking and humorous design promoting body positivity while celebrating the women who run and shape businesses across the town. Organisers say the project has a two-fold purpose: to raise vital funds for breast cancer research and to highlight the diverse and growing range of female-led enterprises operating in Haverfordwest.

Each purchase will help fund life-saving research and provide essential support to those affected by breast cancer — a cause many within the group say is deeply personal to them.

A spokesperson for Haverfordwest Business Women said: “A huge thank you to all the fantastic ladies brave enough to ‘bare all’ for such an important charity. This project shows the strength, humour and solidarity of the incredible women involved.”

Calendars are available now from Victoria Book Shop and other local stockists in Haverfordwest, with all profits going directly to breast cancer charities.

Community

End of the line for Intercity 125s as GWR retires Castle Class fleet

Published

2 days ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Final services mark the end of an era for West Wales rail passengers

THE LAST remaining Intercity 125 High Speed Trains on the Great Western network will make their final scheduled journeys this Saturday (Dec 13), bringing to a close nearly 50 years of service on routes across Wales and the West Country.

Great Western Railway confirmed that its refurbished “Castle Class” sets – shortened HST formations powered by the iconic Class 43 locomotives – will be withdrawn from passenger use after this weekend. The trains, first introduced in 1976, were once the backbone of long-distance travel between West Wales and London Paddington, including the direct Milford Haven–Paddington service used by generations of students and commuters.

Although the Castle sets stopped operating long-distance routes in 2019, they continued to run regional services between Cardiff and Penzance, and were a familiar sight in Pembrokeshire during summer diagrams. Until a few years ago, it was still possible to see a 125 working into Pembroke Dock on weekend services.

To manage expected public interest, GWR will operate an additional farewell round-trip on Saturday, leaving Plymouth at 3.16pm, running to Penzance (calling only at Par), before returning at 5.32pm.

GWR said the trains will be replaced by its existing diesel fleet alongside 26 recommissioned Class 175s, which will roll out gradually during 2026.

The retirement brings a wave of nostalgia for many West Wales passengers who remember the era when a full-length 125 left Milford Haven each morning bound for London. The distinctive Valenta engine note, table seating, and early laptop users powering their machines from the staff hoover socket made the service part of local student life in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Saturday’s farewell run will mark the final chapter for a train that transformed long-distance travel and, for nearly half a century, connected Pembrokeshire to the capital at high speed.

If you’d like, we can add a nostalgia breakout box revisiting the Milford Haven–Paddington days, the Red Dragon breakfast service, and the 125 summers on the Pembroke Dock branch.