The Green Innovators primary programme is designed to engage, inspire and educate young people about future career opportunities within the green economy, as well as enhance their confidence and attitudes to learning. It will encourage participants to develop their sustainability knowledge, taking part in projects designed to inspire new and exciting ideas to help the planet.

The programme will bring together 100 educators and more than 120 volunteers from key businesses to inspire and engage over 4,000 primary school students aged 7-11 from 30 different schools across the region. Parental and carer involvement is also highly encouraged to help embed learning throughout the school ecosystem.

Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) specialist Ahead Partnership has designed this collaborative programme with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to feed into its wider ‘Growing Talent Greener Futures’ programme, a multi-year scheme which aims to connect secondary school students with the green agenda.

As well as boosting interest in careers that will support a greener future, the aim of the Green Innovators primary initiative is to break down gender and social stereotypes and provide engaging activities which connect young people to opportunities. It will launch this academic year and will run until March 2026.

Ahead Partnership and the Combined Authority are currently encouraging businesses from all areas of West Yorkshire’s sustainability sector to get involved by putting forward volunteers for the programme.

The impact of this latest investment into young people is set to support wider sustainability goals for the region. By promoting skills, interest and understanding of the green economy, the Combined Authority is investing in a stronger future talent pipeline to support it in implementing its net-zero by 2030 goals.

In a 2022 study from the Learning and Work Institute, more than three in five young people said they were passionate about sustainability, but said they had never heard of green jobs.

This underscores the critical need for early education on these topics, ensuring that young people can access opportunities within this vital sector and contribute to the UK’s overall climate change targets. It will also create a huge opportunity for young people to find out about the high-skilled, well-paid careers open to them that fit with their values and interests in sustainability.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “The future is green, so we’re investing now to ensure that young people in West Yorkshire have the skills and the opportunities they need to succeed.

“This collaborative initiative will raise aspirations and build confidence, while showcasing the strength and innovation of our region’s growing green economy.

“As we work to deliver net zero by 2038, we must continue to inspire and open doors for the next generation to thrive in a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.”

Georgina Johnson, Programme Manager at Ahead Partnership, said: “We are incredibly excited to launch the Green Innovators Primary programme.

“We know it’s important to introduce opportunities to young people early. The OECD has found those as young as seven are having their career aspirations limited by harmful stereotypes. Programmes like this are crucial for helping them to think about their future goals and providing them with inspiring and diverse role models. We are committed to providing each young person with career guidance while they are on their education journey.

“Given the crucial role that green skills will play in all our futures, this brand-new programme couldn’t come at a better time, and is a fantastic way to inspire and provide meaningful opportunities for thousands of young people across West Yorkshire.”

The Solar for Schools CBS, which is owned and governed by the schools themselves, enables those schools to make savings on energy bills, reductions in CO2 emissions; and helps local authorities to progress towards their net zero targets.

While The Solar for Schools CBS currently owns and operates over 150 rooftop installations, it has over 100 schools on its waiting list. The new senior debt from Triodos Bank will be combined with crowdfunding bond finance to help the non-profit accelerate its work with around 30 more schools, including those in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK. To deliver the projects, the CBS works with SolarOptions for Schools, which develops and then manages the projects for the CBS, working closely with the CBS to secure funding.

The CBS also works with Solar Options for Schools to deliver interactive education forboth primary and secondary students to learn more about renewable energy, climate change, green skills and sustainability; all linked to STEM subjects. The partnership with Triodos was marked during a workshop at Churchfields Junior School in East London last week. Triodos representatives – Ellie James and Dinkar Suri – met 30 students from Years 3 to 6, all members of the school’s Eco Committee. The group experimented with a ‘Solar Explorer Kit’ and showcased other measures that the school is taking to reduce its carbon footprint.

“With solar panels hidden on the roof, pupils could easily come to school without noticing them. The education work helps to deliver a lasting legacy in the school and community. These pupils will go on to be ambassadors for sustainability, educating their friends and families and leading to further improvements in the school” said James Easter, deputy head at Churchfields Junior School.

As the CBS is governed by the school members themselves, any surplus from solarenergy generated across the community is shared with the schools. Schools pay only for the solar electricity they use at a pre-agreed unit price, lower than their mains electricity price, therefore providing additional security against volatile energy prices. These prices are fixed for the lifetime of the solar panels, at 25 years, rising only with inflation.

So far, the CBS has raised most of its funds via ethical bond offers to individuals, but hopes that this ground-breaking partnership with Triodos Bank unlocks further potential, validating the robustness of the model, and encourages more funders of all sizes to join the mission.

Robert Schrimpff, Co-founder of Solar Options for Schools and voluntary director of the CBS, explained: “There are nearly 25,000 schools in the UK alone, requiring about £2b to install solar on all sensible roofs. But individually, these schools are far too small to attract low-cost project finance. Creating a funding structure that addresses the needs and limitations of each school, the councils and the Department for Education, while meeting the strict requirements of institutional lenders is therefore key to unlocking solar across the educational estate. Getting Triodos onboard is a vital milestone in proving that we have created such a structure. It will enable more funders to support schools with confidence. We can now focus on replicating this structure forchurch-owned schools, larger councils and other community energy groups to enable thousands of schools to go solar.”

Amandine Tetot, head of energy and project finance at Triodos Bank UK, added: “We’re pleased to support an incredible organisation that is not only focused on generating more clean energy, but is doing it in way that educates the next generation about the environment, energy, electricity and photovoltaics through really engaging and hands-on tools. This aligns with our mission as a bank to support projects and organisations that have the power to make a meaningful difference to the environment and peoples’ lives. We hope to be able to do a lot more lending like this in future.”

ViewSonic aims to achieve a 42% reduction in carbon footprint by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Other key initiatives within the company’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy include aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 4, 12, and 15. These goals focus on providing equitable quality education for all, ensuring responsible product life cycles, and promoting the restorative management of ecosystems.

“We believe that technological advancement and environmental stewardship can and must go hand in hand.” said Clifford Chen, General Manager of the Presentation Group at ViewSonic. ” As a leader in the Interactive Display market, this represents a pivotal step towards a more sustainable and responsible future in the technology sector. It’s a testament to our unwavering dedication to environmental and social responsibility.”

In the pursuit of reducing environmental impact, ViewSonic’s series of ViewBoard interactive displays are designed with recycled materials and incorporate energy-saving features. The Carbon Footprint of ViewBoards has fallen by up to 24.43% compared to the previous generation. These interactive displays are registered with EPEAT® and certified by ENERGY STAR® 8.0, signifying that the devices meet high environmental performance criteria for product longevity, circular design, and energy efficiency. Each ViewBoard also comes with a comprehensive report detailing its carbon emissions and overall environmental footprint.

Energy Conservation
Engineered to minimize power consumption without compromising performance, our interactive displays feature various modes designed to reduce carbon footprint. In Energy-Saving Mode, the device automatically powers down when no signal is received for a specific amount of time. After an hour of inactivity, it enters Stand-By Mode through an Eco-mode setting. For scheduled poweron-and-offs, users can customize their preferred times using Manager Advanced. To access more information about the overall power consumption of our devices and for more precise savings, users can utilize ViewSonic’s Energy Savings Calculator.

Product Longevity
Prioritizing longevity and serviceability, ViewBoards are designed with a modular and upgradable framework, enabling easy component replacement, and accommodating technological advancements without the need to discard the entire unit. For instance, users can enhance their interactive displays by incorporating a slot-in PC to extend the product lifecycle or accessorize with sensors to reduce overall power consumption.

This forward-thinking approach not only extends the product lifecycle but also fosters a circular economy by encouraging the reuse and repurposing of materials. Through the Recycle and Disposal Program, which allows users to return obsolete devices directly to ViewSonic, we responsibly collect, recycle, and dispose of these devices, minimizing environmental harm and maximizing the reusability of materials for newer models.

Social Impact
ViewSonic will participate in various technology tradeshows, including BETT 2024 in London, United Kingdom, from January 24th to 26th, 2024, and ISE 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, from January 30th to February 2nd. The aim is to raise awareness about sustainable technology in educational institutions and corporate environments. Through this participation, the company hopes to actively engage with these sectors to encourage the adoption of devices that are environmentally conscious, promoting a positive impact on the planet.

For more information about ViewSonic’s ethos on sustainability, please visit ViewSonic ESG website.

www.viewsonic.com

As part of STEM week, Brackenfield invited guest speakers from prestigious brands such as Maserati and BMW – who brought with them a selection of electric and hybrid vehicles – alongside a leading manufacturing representative, to talk to the children about what it means to work in the science, technology and engineering sectors.

Sustainability is one of the school’s core values and there is a strong commitment within the school’s curriculum and wider community to achieving success in this important area. Visitors were asked to discuss and explain how a dedication to preserving and protecting the environment was a key part of their industries in 2023.

Headmaster at Brackenfield School, Joe Masterson, said: “It was a pleasure to see our children light up with excitement during STEM week, as we brought their learning to life with examples of sustainability in action. The electric vehicles prompted lots of questions, discussions and ideas, as did the variety of STEM talks from our esteemed guests such as Erika Hudson from Wilson Power Solutions and Dr Smith, an experienced GP who presented a talk to our pupils.

“STEM subjects are a vital part of our curriculum and we are thrilled to have so many future engineers, scientists and mathematicians in the making at Brackenfield. The children are very invested in our zero-carbon promise and learning about the ‘bigger picture’ has really helped them understand how small actions can have an impact for the future of our planet.”

Later in the week, the activities shifted from science to maths, with Year 6 visiting Maths City in Leeds, finishing off the week with a STEM dress-up day for the whole school – with children showcasing numerous impressive costumes, from doctors to scientists.

A Year 6 pupil said: “I have loved this week’s activities, I particularly enjoyed visiting Maths City. Maths is my favourite subject at school, so this was such a cool visit for me and my friends. This whole week has been super interesting, we have learnt a lot about the environment and what we can do to help keep our planet clean.”

Mr Masterson added: “We feel it’s really important that children are given the opportunity to have grown-up conversations about our planet and the important role we all play in supporting its future. We are currently teaching the next generation, so the Brackenfield team do all we can to encourage positive habits that can lead to a greener and cleaner world.”

Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School, which is part of the Romero Catholic Academy, welcomed sustainability experts from Severn Trent, Coventry City Council, as well as Cllr Kevin Maton in one of his first appearances as Lord Mayor of Coventry, for Romero Catholic Academy’s inaugural Eco Conference.

The day, which is set to be an annual academy-wide forum to address climate change and how to save the planet, was organised after students at Corpus Christi wrote to the senior leadership team at Romero Catholic Academy to ask what they are doing in response to the challenges raised at COP26 in Glasgow last year.

The conference began with an address from Cllr Maton and featured talks from Bret Willers, Head of Climate Change and Sustainability at Coventry City Council, who ran through the origins of climate change and what we can do to reduce our impact on the planet, and Ricky Dallow, Commonwealth Forest Delivery Manager at Severn Trent, who introduced Corpus Christi’s Tiny Forest to visitors from across the Romero Academy.

Corpus Christi’s Tiny Forest is one of 72 sites planted across the Midlands in celebration of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. As Birmingham 2022’s Official Nature & Carbon Neutral Supporter, Severn Trent, with support from local communities and environmental charity Earthwatch Europe, has created the tennis-court-sized forests across its region this year, one for each of the nations and territories competing in the Games.

Each Tiny Forest is made up of native tree species that are threatened by deforestation across the globe to raise awareness of the importance of protecting nature. A total of 600 trees were planted at the Corpus Christi school on Langbank Avenue, including including Oak, Cherry and Lime.

Hannah Thompson, Trainee Year 6 Teacher at Corpus Christi, said: “I’m very passionate about the environment and I was delighted to be asked by the senior leadership team at Romero to coordinate the event. It was amazing to bring so many interested parties together and we appreciate the support from all concerned.

“In response to COP26 and the children who raised concerns about the environment, we created a committee made up of staff from the Academy who have been instrumental in making our first Eco Conference a reality.

“We’ve had some incredible guest speakers here today and some enthusiastic responses from the children.

“We hope that this can be an annual event and that each year we raise the bar for environmental awareness across the Romero Academy to encourage real change.”

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said: “I’m really pleased that these young students are so interested in what they can do to address climate change.

“It’s a hot topic for us all and one that really matters to this generation. Coventry is leading the green industrial revolution and projects like Coventry Very Light Rail, all electric bus city and our ambition to install more on street electric charge points shows what ambition we have to cut carbon emissions.

“Also this ground breaking innovations will lead to the jobs of the future so I hope the students were also inspire to think about how they could play their part in positive change in the future too.”

Ricky Dallow, Commonwealth Forest Delivery Manager at Severn Trent, said: “As a company that takes care of one of life’s essentials, we’re really passionate about making a positive impact on the communities and the environment where we live and work and these Tiny Forests are going to be a real asset to the Midlands.

“These Tiny Forests will they help to deliver a lasting legacy for the Games and create inspiring outdoor classrooms allowing children to learn first-hand about nature and the environment.”

For more information visit romeromac.com

Let’s Go Zero is the national campaign uniting teachers, pupils, parents and their schools as they all work together to be zero carbon by 2030. Every school that signs up is pledging to work towards a more sustainable future while calling for much-needed government support to help all schools reach their zero carbon goals.

Targets across schools were set to encourage a creative approach towards helping the environment, these targets were set way before the energy price hikes and increases in the cost of living communities have experienced in the last 12 months.

There have been some great examples across the Trust of the types of work being done within schools and the community including meat-free Mondays, litter picking, foodbanks, “Energy Saving Champions”, gardening clubs and recycling.

Helen Rowland, Chief Executive Officer at Focus-Trust, said: “The Lets Go Zero campaign has been amazing in supporting the continuation of our sustainability efforts Trust wide.

“By taking lots of small steps towards being more environmentally friendly, our schools are responding to our children’s demand that we protect our planet and lead the way in our communities.

“We are incredibly proud of all the work children are doing across the schools, all whilst learning about sustainability on the way.”

Focus-Trust is a charitable primary schools trust which is based in the North West of England and West Yorkshire with a vision of providing ‘great schools at the heart of our communities’ where children thrive, achieve and succeed.