Episode 05: From 9 to 5?This episode is about the grind, the toil, the sweat, the slog, the graft, the duty – and things like skills and craft, commitment and creativity. Yes, it’s about work! The green kind. It’s about working in the energy transition. What exactly is a green job? How do I get myself one of those? What motivates folks who have one? And is it the same as a good job? Join us as we talk to people that hold green jobs and those that create the conditions for more of us to have one.
To be honest this subject has become so interesting and we got so excited by all the brilliant interviews people did, that we ended up making this last episode of our Oldham season into a back-to-back bonanza of two (shorter!) parts.
Artwork by Roy McCarthy
There are official definitions of green jobs, they are the ones that help us move away from fossil fuels and protect our natural resources. You will hear from brilliant people who work in these spaces and train others to join them. Their work is fascinating and we get a real sense of excitement and pride to be taking an active part in mitigating climate change. They talk about innovation, dedication and skill and doing stuff we love to do.
Image: Trailar solar panels for vehicles
As we talk more with people though, we realise that it is not always going smoothly and that there are some quite fundamental stumbling blocks on the path to a greener future. So maybe, we find out, this is about more than just swapping in the ‘green’ to the otherwise business-as-usual. And maybe, just maybe this big crisis could be about an opportunity to reconsider what we value and how we care for each other. Like how, you ask? Well, have a listen and judge for yourself.
Image: Oldham College
Mumin shares his joy about getting a job straight out of uni and a green one at that! Mike is a little sad that he is retiring after 30 years in the electricity industry – just as it is getting exciting. Helen from Electricity North West explains how her green job helps her to keep the worries at bay and gives her the opportunity to help people shine. We hear more from B4Box and find out about the importance of a properly paid apprenticeship and Tom from Oldham Community College shares his excitement about training the next generations of plumbers and electricians in sustainable practices. We learn about the connection between valuing manual workers and averting climate catastrophe and we talk about how much more central care – both as a profession and as a value – should be to our efforts in creating better and more just futures.
Images: Oldham College
In part 2 we make the jump to consider the wider economy and you will hear from one of Oldham’s most innovative start-ups in the low carbon space and how local businesses are an integral part of the progressive environmental and economic vision Oldham Council has for the borough. Andy Hunt is back to discuss the Oldham Green New Deal and how the energy transition can create real opportunities for the local economy, for businesses, jobs, training and community well-being. And Antonia from CLES – the national organisation for local economies – gives us a whistle-stop tour of community wealth building and how Preston has managed to keep millions of pounds circulating locally by supporting local businesses to take on local contracts.
It gets quite philosophical at some points, but not to worry, Alex has somehow managed to take over the host seat and he is keeping the tent firmly pitched in the ground (or something like that).
Episode credits
Power in the City is produced by Carbon Coop.
This episode was written and produced by Britt Jurgensen.
Host: Alex King
Local research & interviews: Melissa Kelly Shore
Sound design & post production: Barry Han
Interviews with:
Mumin Rahman, Carbon Co-op
Helen Seagrave and Mike Taylor, Electricity North West
Aileen McDonnell, Orianne Landers, Mark Cox, B4Box
Tom Jarman, Low Carbon Journey
Tom Leahy, Oldham College
Lucy Burke, Manchester Metropolitan University
Adam Buckley-Mayes, Trailar
Andrew Hunt, Oldham Council
Antonia Jennings, CLES
Power in the City is funded by the Electricity North West Powering our Communities Fund, ICLEI Action Fund and UCL Grand Challenges.
Find out more
Data
Green and brown job creation
Climate Change Committee investment prognosis
Learning and Training
Oldham College
B4Box
People Powered Retrofit
Retrofit Academy
Centre for Alternative Technology
Oldham and GM plans
Oldham Green New Deal
Greater Manchester Green Sector Mapping
Commmunity Wealth Building, Green New Deal and other progressive economic models
CLES – the national organisation for local economics
New Economics Foundation
Green New Deal UK
Donate Economics
Green New Deal Media – podcast by Lucy and Alex
The bigger picture
Case studies social housing excellence and collaboration
Zero Carbon Britain Hub Future Scenario
Carbon Brief – impartial information on climate change and policy
