Greenprint conference to review green skills & inspiration of region's young people

Business, community, and education leaders from across the south are invited to take part in the inaugural Greenprint conference, to be held on 30 June at the University of Southampton.

The trailblazing event aims to encourage collaboration across all sectors to explore the challenges and opportunities of green skills in the region, with expert speakers, a panel discussion and workshop sessions. A team from Mayfield School, Portsmouth, winners of this year's Fareham College Climate Change Challenge 'Dragons Den' competition, will be showcasing their innovative solar and wind powered electric car charging points.

Delegates will be welcomed by Vice President of the University of Southampton, Professor Mark Spearing and Councillor Seán Woodward, Leader of Fareham Borough Council & Chairman of Partnership for South Hampshire and will hear from a variety of expert speakers. Alison Barnes, Chair of Greenprint and Chief Executive Officer of the New Forest National Park Authority will introduce Greenprint, followed by a panel session hosted by Simon Eden, Southern Policy Centre with:

• Councillor Satvir Kaur, Leader of Southampton City Council
• Debbie Tann, Chief Executive Officer Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
• Annoushka Ottley, Executive Director Business and Civic Partnerships (Designate) for the South Hampshire College Group
• David Hutchinson, Innovation and Impact Development Manager, University of Portsmouth

To ensure that as many people as possible can take part in this important conference for the region, the morning session will be livestreamed, and virtual attendees will be able to listen and to ask questions of the speakers online.

Alison Barnes, Chair of Greenprint and Chief Executive Officer of the New Forest National Park Authority said: “We are delighted to be bringing the Greenprint initiative to a broad audience for the first time. This is an opportunity to celebrate our unique region and launch our ambition to become a centre for a world class environment alongside a world class economy by championing knowledge, collaboration, and innovation.

“Delegates will consider how we can collaborate to make the area become a centre for excellence in green skills and jobs, and in doing so, tackle local skills gaps and economic inequalities. This will come from building a future workforce which can seize the opportunities offered by innovation in key sectors, including zero carbon economy, land management and the visitor economy."

Councillor Seán Woodward, Leader of Fareham Borough Council & Chairman of Partnership for South Hampshire, said: "The conference is a great opportunity for public sector and education organisations, businesses and local communities to address how we, collectively, can make sure our region has the skills it needs to tackle pressing environmental issues and to consider ways in which we can create a synergy between the vast range of projects and initiatives that are happening across business, the public sector and academia."

The Greenprint initiative reflects the distinctive characteristics of the area – from the coastline and national parks to the urban, suburban and rural communities. It is committed to building sustainable places and climate resilience, and the conference will hold a variety of workshops in the afternoon that reflects its priorities, all underlined by the overarching topic of green skills:

• Creating the Natural Health Service
•  Exploring how new and future skills are critical for a world class blue/green environment, and how it contributes to a strong economy
• Financing Net Zero with Nature
• Creating great places through quality in design and build

The in-person, all day conference will end with a networking drinks reception, giving attendees the chance to continue the conversation with fellow professionals and aspirational people who are showing the way in the realm of sustainable development.

The Greenprint initiative has been supported by a wide range of organisations across sectors as a framework for collaboration and green recovery, notably from all Authorities that make up the Partnership for South Hampshire, University of Southampton, University of Portsmouth, Southern Policy Centre and New Forest National Park Authority, to develop the Greenprint initiative and its priorities for a sustainable, green skilled future.

It reflects the Government’s ambitions in the 25 Year Environment Plan and recent Environment Improvement Plan. It has been embedded in the successful bid for the Solent Freeport and supported by the Solent LEP.

Anybody wishing to find out more, and to attend either the all-day in-person event, the online morning session, or the evening networking drinks reception, can find out more and sign up here.

Watch this film to find out more about the Greenprint Conference.

Photo: Mogshade Hill at sunrise by Nick Lucas