PAST PROJECT
Understanding Low Carbon Skills: Research for LearnDirect in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
As part of a University of Derby research team commissioned by LearnDirect, Dr Tracey Wond led insight gathering with construction employers to understand emerging low carbon skills needs across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Her work helped ensure the sector’s voice was reflected in regional strategy.
As the UK moves toward a low-carbon economy, regions like Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire face both opportunity and challenge. Sectors such as construction and engineering will play a central role in delivering this transition, but doing so requires a workforce equipped with the right skills.
To explore these needs in more detail, LearnDirect commissioned a research team from the University of Derby to investigate low carbon skills gaps across the region. Dr Tracey Wond, Director of The Innovation Office, was part of that team, with responsibility for leading employer insight within the construction sector.
Elevating employer voice
The construction sector was a priority focus, reflecting its dual role as both a high-impact emitter and a key delivery partner for energy-efficient buildings, retrofitting, and sustainable infrastructure.
Dr Wond designed and led interviews with construction employers and training providers across the region. These conversations provided critical insight into:
The practical skills employers are beginning to need
Barriers to upskilling and accessing relevant provision
Gaps between training supply and demand
Emerging green roles within traditional trades
The insights gathered helped surface what employers were experiencing on the ground, bridging the gap between workforce policy and practical reality.
Feeding into regional strategy
The broader research drew on qualitative and quantitative data across multiple sectors. Dr Wond’s contribution ensured the construction sector perspective was fully represented and grounded in first-hand accounts.
The research helped inform:
Regional understanding of low carbon skills gaps
Strategic considerations for training providers and funders
Practical recommendations aligned to employer readiness and appetite
Why this matters
The green transition won’t be driven by policy alone. Employers need the right people with the right skills - and that means listening carefully to what they’re already seeing and struggling with.
This project added weight to that picture, showing how skills demand is evolving and what support is needed to close the gap.
Need sector-specific insight to guide your skills or strategy work?
The Innovation Office brings deep experience in qualitative research, interview-led insight, and applied reporting - with a focus on turning employer voice into strategic clarity.