Nature & Wildlife, New Forest | Posted on August 4th, 2026 | return to news

New Forest National Park Authority calls for green careers

A report has found that many young people remain unaware of the range of green opportunities that are available.

More young people should be encouraged to pursue green careers.

That is the finding from new research by the New Forest National Park Authority.

The report, produced by researchers at the University of Southampton, Swansea University and Cardiff University, in partnership with the New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) and Greenprint, a regional partnership promoting green growth, explores the views of careers advisers, employers, local authorities and environmental organisations in the Hampshire and Solent region and sets out practical recommendations on how more people can be encouraged into green careers.

The research found that while demand for green skills continues to grow, many young people remain unaware of the range of opportunities available. Participants said stronger partnerships between education providers and employers, better careers guidance and more paid work experience and apprenticeships would help create clearer pathways into the sector.

The findings are now acting as a catalyst for a programme of collaborative work between university and regional partners to turn those recommendations into practical initiatives that improve access to green careers.

Jim Mitchell, access and learning manager at the New Forest National Park Authority, said: “Many people still picture green careers as working in conservation, but the opportunities are much broader than that. Green skills are becoming part of almost every profession.

“Giving young people the chance to understand and experience that first-hand is one of the most effective ways to inspire future careers. By working together with schools, employers and community partners, we can help people see what’s possible and build their confidence to take that first step.”

The research highlights four priority areas for action:

Strengthening education and industry partnerships for green skills development
Using policy levers for equitable green job pathways
Bridging the information gap: strengthening green careers guidance
Expanding access to green careers.

Among its recommendations are creating a regional online hub for green careers, embedding sustainability throughout education, and increasing access to meaningful work experience to remove barriers for young people and underrepresented groups. Partners are now working together to develop and implement these recommendations across the region.

Lead author Dr Emma Rawlings Smith, formerly lecturer in Sustainability and Geography Education at the University of Southampton, said: “Our research found a clear disconnect between the ambition to grow the green economy and people’s awareness of the opportunities available. Closing that gap means bringing different sectors together so that young people can see where green careers exist and how to access them.”