By Ganymede
Ganymede Solutions recently hosted Powering Net Zero: Workforce Strategies at the Derby Conference Centre, bringing together leaders from across the energy and utilities sector to explore one of the industry’s most pressing challenges.
How do we deliver ambitious Net Zero targets while building a workforce capable of making it happen?
Throughout the day, speakers and attendees shared practical insight, real challenges and honest perspectives. While ambition across the sector is clear, delivery will depend on how effectively we attract, develop and support our people.
Key Session Takeaways:
Jules Reed - Ganymede Solutions
Jules Reed, Behavioural Scientist at Ganymede Solutions, highlighted the role behavioural science can play in supporting operational workforces.
Understanding human factors is key to improving safety, enhancing performance and delivering better customer outcomes. As organisations grow and evolve, behavioural science also provides valuable insight into how change impacts culture, and how leaders can manage that effectively.
Stephen Barrett - EU Skills
Stephen Barrett, Director of Membership and Strategic Engagement at EU Skills, join us from the NSAP meeting also being held at the Derby Conference Centre. He explored the critical skills required across the energy and utilities sector and the need to build capacity quickly.
The message was clear. Meeting demand will require a more structured and strategic approach to workforce planning, supported by industry frameworks, training pathways and collaboration.
Eddie Woods - Silent Voices Charity
Eddie Woods, Trustee at Silent Voices Charity, brought an important and powerful perspective on mental health across the industry.
The session highlighted the urgent need to better support people both on site and in the wider community. From counselling and peer support to open conversations, there is a clear responsibility across the sector to break the silence and make wellbeing a core part of workforce strategy.
Vardaan Shekhawat - ECITB
Vardaan Shekhawat, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at ECITB, reinforced the scale of the challenge. With around 400000 additional workers needed by 2030, organisations must focus not only on sourcing talent, but also developing and retaining the skills needed for long term success.
Joe Prestedge, Director of Energy, Ganymede Solutions said:
“It was great to welcome everyone to our head office last week and see such strong engagement across the room. There was a clear shared ambition to drive progress towards Net Zero. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day such a success, and to our speakers for sharing their insight and experience. One of the most important takeaways from the event was the growing recognition that people sit at the heart of delivery. From skills and capability to wellbeing and culture, supporting our workforce properly is critical to long term success.”
Take a look at our highlights video here:
The event reinforced a simple but important message. Net Zero will not be delivered without the right people in place.
Organisations that take a proactive approach to workforce planning, invest in skills and prioritise the wellbeing of their people will be best placed to succeed.
At Ganymede, we are proud to support our clients with the workforce strategies, recruitment and training solutions needed to meet these challenges.