As consciousness of the effects of climate change on our planet increases, so does the demand for careers aiming to combat its effects. This week celebrates Green Careers Week, dedicated to shining a spotlight on the diverse and dynamic opportunities available in environmental sectors. 

Spreading awareness of contributing career paths, our team visited two local Routes to Work youth groups in North Lanarkshire. Routes to Work is a charity dedicated to helping North Lanarkshire residents gain the skills, confidence and qualifications needed to enter the workforce or continue education. 

Across our visits, Lauren SeBlonka Innovation Business Partner, Alexandra Morgan Project Manager, Paul Brown Principal Operations Manager and Alisha McKinlay Media and Communications Officer, shared their journey into their current role with each group. They then went onto detail what each role entails on a typical day, followed by an exploration of the variety of roles offered within the roads industry currently. 

Afterwards, pupils gained insight into the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads as a project, which led to an intuitive activity of brainstorming innovative ways to lower carbon in street lighting, line-marking, winter maintenance, pothole repair and surface treatments. 

Students developed a multitude of plans from utilising alkaline substances to balance the pH of soil as a way of growing plants to applying glow in the dark paint to line-markings for better visibility at night to encouraging staff to car-share to reduce carbon emissions produced from driving. 

The enthusiasm and creativity shown by the young people during Green Careers Week was a powerful reminder of the potential that lies within the next generation. Their ideas reflect a growing awareness of how everyday actions and career choices can contribute to a greener future. By engaging with initiatives like Routes to Work and the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads, these students are not only exploring pathways into meaningful employment but also shaping the solutions our planet urgently needs.