{"id":477399,"date":"2026-04-14T17:14:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T16:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=477399"},"modified":"2026-04-14T17:14:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T16:14:56","slug":"175-million-for-young-londoners-to-be-trained-up-in-clean-energy-and-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/london\/175-million-for-young-londoners-to-be-trained-up-in-clean-energy-and-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a3175 million for young Londoners to be trained up in clean energy and AI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Thousands of young Londoners will be trained up to work in the clean energy and technology sectors thanks to investment in two specialist colleges in the capital.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Capital City College Group, which runs eight colleges across the city, and South Bank College are among the 19 new Technical Excellence Colleges in the country backed by \u00a3175 million of government funding to ensure homegrown skills keep up with rapidly growing industries across the country.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"vSPt0Z1iflKRdLC5BbR2waYy9HVsUEiqLqcTA1z8cewDmXMA5GDGhWoBuj3lgWo6tO270zXpV3mNUnhTNE9SIQFx\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Ehb5kmQmPC\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/a-less-woke-approach-is-this-the-strictest-school-in-southwark\/\">A &#8216;less woke&#8217; approach: Is this the strictest school in Southwark?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;A &#8216;less woke&#8217; approach: Is this the strictest school in Southwark?&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/a-less-woke-approach-is-this-the-strictest-school-in-southwark\/embed\/#?secret=zwhBH1L7n5#?secret=Ehb5kmQmPC\" data-secret=\"Ehb5kmQmPC\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s estimated that almost 600,000 additional workers will be needed by 2030 in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence, and digital and technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking exclusively to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) at South Bank College, Minister for Industry Chris McDonald said the investment will help produce 1,500 extra learners per year at the facility alone.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjY5OTU0MzkxNSIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>He also said the investment won\u2019t only benefit young Londoners, but firms across the city desperately in need of skilled workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s going to create good opportunities for young people who live locally, but this college actually supports people from a very wide area as well,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we also think about where those skills are applied as well, so there are a lot of small businesses in the London area who really need skilled labour.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzg0NjgyODU5MiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s such a strong demand now for heat pumps, for solar thermal, for ground source heat pumps \u2013 and if they don\u2019t get access to those skills, they won\u2019t be able to grow their businesses. So it\u2019s right that we think about the opportunities for young people, but we also need to think about what it\u2019s going to mean for London businesses as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the government wants to meet its net zero emissions goal by 2050, Sir Sadiq Khan has set a target of 2030 for London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"ZoCyb5o99dJvq8KI0bwTNX3euzjSHz2WBhckqYVt7FImdkGUaVul1CAXF3ROHyfPWMcODU85wQfxE\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"qtgYEUHzYi\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/london\/london-has-become-an-urban-heat-island-and-the-cost-to-fix-it-is-eyewatering\/\">London has become an &#8216;urban heat island&#8217; and the cost to fix it is eyewatering<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;London has become an &#8216;urban heat island&#8217; and the cost to fix it is eyewatering&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/london\/london-has-become-an-urban-heat-island-and-the-cost-to-fix-it-is-eyewatering\/embed\/#?secret=GGY0AsCNDj#?secret=qtgYEUHzYi\" data-secret=\"qtgYEUHzYi\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>His \u2018Accelerated Green\u2019 pathway will require mass adoption of heat pumps, including retrofitting clean energy technology in older homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will not be possible without skilled workers, however. The Mayor of London has already established \u2018Green Skills Hubs\u2019 across the city, and earlier this year announced \u00a3147.2 million for \u2018upskilling\u2019 young Londoners in crucial sectors like green technology and artificial intelligence (AI).<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMTAxMzg1NTk0MSIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s really important for our decarbonisation that young people have got the skills to access those jobs,\u201d Mr McDonald added, suggesting the government\u2019s clean energy goals were aligned with City Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe won\u2019t get any of the decarbonisation, we won\u2019t get the economic growth, we wouldn\u2019t get all of that benefit without these skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe green economy is growing many times faster than the normal economy, and so it is really important that we equip people to have those skills for life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A total \u00a320 million of the upskilling fund will be put towards free AI training for all Londoners so the capital\u2019s workforce keeps up with the technology, the Mayor announced earlier this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His Future of Work taskforce has also been told to identify which London jobs are most at risk of AI displacement and what skills are needed to mitigate any employment risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr McDonald said: \u201cTechnical colleges are more important than ever. Young people who come to them will have skills for life, whether it\u2019s in AI, gaming or any aspect of digital and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese are cross-cutting skills which can be applied across other sectors of our industrial strategy as well. Ultimately, these digital AI tech skills, they\u2019re vital across the entirety of the whole economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, told the LDRS: \u201cTechnical Excellence Colleges will help equip Londoners with the skills they need to progress in good, well paid jobs, particularly in sectors like clean energy and digital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey will also ensure businesses can access the talent they need, supporting growth in London and across the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"BUPSVmdTbGqfzXH7Ru\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"OALBuIJUMh\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/london\/wave-of-tech-hubs-powering-artificial-intelligence-and-other-digital-innovation-could-undermine-mayors-net-zero-goals\/\">Wave of tech hubs powering artificial intelligence and other digital innovation could &#8216;undermine&#8217; Mayor\u2019s Net Zero goals<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Wave of tech hubs powering artificial intelligence and other digital innovation could &#8216;undermine&#8217; Mayor\u2019s Net Zero goals&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/london\/wave-of-tech-hubs-powering-artificial-intelligence-and-other-digital-innovation-could-undermine-mayors-net-zero-goals\/embed\/#?secret=sv2SJhZCcV#?secret=OALBuIJUMh\" data-secret=\"OALBuIJUMh\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thousands of young Londoners will be trained up to work in the clean energy and technology sectors thanks to investment in two specialist colleges in the capital. Capital City College Group, which runs eight colleges across the city, and South Bank College are among the 19 new Technical Excellence Colleges in the country backed by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19652,"featured_media":477400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"A total \u00a320 million of the upskilling fund will be put towards free AI training for all Londoners"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"800"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7375,800,13602],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-477399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-london","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19652"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=477399"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":477401,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477399\/revisions\/477401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/477400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=477399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=477399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=477399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}