Tees Components Managing Director Sharon Lane has been appointed to the Government’s Green Jobs Taskforce, which will support a drive for two million green jobs by 2030. 

Sharon will represent region and the Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) on the taskforce, which includes representatives from companies such as National Grid, Tata Steel, BP Ørsted and Nissan.   It also features organisations such as the TUC, ECITB, and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF). 

Focused on setting the direction for the job market as the UK transitions to a high-skill, low carbon economy, the task force forms part of the Government’s ambitious plans to build back greener and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. 

The task force will be chaired by Business and Energy Minister, Kwasi Kwarteng and Apprenticeship and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan and will focus on the immediate and long-term challenges of delivering skilled workers for the transition to net zero. 

This includes ensuring the country has the skills for industries such as offshore wind and hydrogen as well as supporting workers in sectors, including oil & gas, retrain in new green technologies. 

Sharon Lane said: “I am very honoured to join the Green Jobs Tasksforce and represent the Tees Valley in this vital challenge to create a sustainable, skilled workforce that can support green industries and help meet the UK’s low carbon ambitions.

“The Tees Valley is ideally positioned to play an integral role in the green revolution, building on our exceptional industrial heritage and our leading role in making the transition to renewable energy resources.  

“The exciting developments that will come from the TeesWorks project, the plans for a new waste-to-energy plant at PD Ports facility on the Tees, the opportunities presented by hydrogen technologies and, of course, our world-recognised role in the offshore wind industry will all be essential parts of the drive for more green jobs.” 

“Working with the taskforce I am keen to help the Government understand what businesses in our region need to help develop their skilled workforces and work with employers across the Tees Valley to gain an insight into their opportunities and challenges to support the creation of green jobs.” 

Business and Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said: “This Government has promised to do all it can to provide good quality, secure work as we build back better and greener from coronavirus. 

“The Green Jobs Taskforce will oversee the UK taking strides towards long-term economic prosperity, as well as transitioning to the new low-carbon green industries of the future” 

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan said: “It is now more critical than ever to make sure people get the skills they need to progress and that will help our economy to recover. 

“I am very much looking forward to co-chairing this important taskforce so we can create more, high quality green job opportunities, levelling up our economy and delivering on our commitment to be net zero by 2050.”