An ask for 2023: a stable foundation that supports proactivity
It’s fair to say that 2022 will be remembered as a year of challenges for governments, businesses and people. Rising costs, supply chain shortages, energy market volatility, political tension, the list goes on. In the UK we’ve also had to wrangle the ongoing pressures presented by Brexit and political instability. Meanwhile we are facing a lengthy, albeit low-level, economic recession over the coming 12 months.
While it doesn’t quite feel right to start the year on a low note, the reality of the situation now is that 2023 will likely bring more of the same challenges rather than complete relief.
That means that we need to focus our efforts on establishing a stable footing
Firstly, we need government to have a long-term plan
Having this stability helps to promote growth
A strong vision from government is also critical to the success of the next key element – establishing our roadmap for net zero.?
Decarbonisation is the central most important challenge globally. Of course, business leaders have many other challenges to contend with and many are having to focus on cashflow in the current climate. But the longer we take to decarbonise the less competitive we are among our global peers.
Altruism aside – if keeping our planet safe and habitable for future generations isn’t enough of an argument – decarbonisation makes good business sense. Reducing energy consumption and enhancing our energy security protects everyone from the effects of volatile energy markets and geopolitical tensions.?
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But reaching net-zero won’t be easy in the UK. Our built environment is made up of a range of heritage assets that are complex to upgrade, we have made significant investment in renewables but need to optimise our use of the grid to decarbonise our energy network and on top of this we have to ensure we continue to modernise our industrial sectors
While many organisations from across the public and private sectors have made commitments to Net-Zero, 2023 needs to be a year of action. It has been estimated that delaying decarbonisation even by one decade doubles the cost of getting there ahead of the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target. The longer we take to act the harder it will be.
Action on net-zero needs to be underpinned by a strong foundation of skills. A third aspiration for 2023 is to ensure that we have the correct skills we need – now and for the future. One component of this is STEM education
The quality of apprentices and graduates in our organisation is second to none but like many organisations facing a war on talent, our challenges are twofold: quantity and variety. Making sure we can attract the numbers we need to fulfil the ambitions of Siemens in the UK is one thing, but we also must ensure that we can attract the most innovative minds from diverse backgrounds too that provide the diversity of thought
The second element of this is how we all constantly evolve our own approach to work – whether that’s thinking about our own ability to decarbonise, or getting more familiar with digital approaches. For many businesses, the majority of the workforce they have in 2030 will already be in employment with them. We’re all already witnessing the need to be agile to change and we need to ensure our businesses provide the right environments for people to explore and evolve in their roles to meet the headwinds beyond 2023.
While it would be wrong to say there aren’t challenges ahead, if we can unlock the potential of a UK strategy for growth, clearly define our net-zero pathway and secure skills for the future, we may be able to emerge from 2023 with a more positive outlook. This year, I hope the UK achieves the stability we need so those of us who can drive growth, are able to do so.?
Global Product Manager at Nidec Control Techniques
2 年Good post, but it is important we don’t say we are in a recession, we need to be positive, business is booming we are not in a recession.
Channel Marketing Manager at Siemens Financial Services
2 年“For many businesses, the majority of the workforce they have in 2030 will already be in employment with them”. I’m personally very grateful for the opportunities provided on the Siemens Learning Portal - Where you can choose your learning pathway and have the choice of upskilling on pretty much anything you want to. Great benefit of working here!
Hello Carl. Great thought piece. Hope someone in government takes note!! One issue I'd like to flag is the much more proactive role that industry and employers also needs to play in investing in skills development for a net zero future. Business leaders can't continue to complain about the shortage of skilled workers, show a reluctance to dip their hands into their own company coffers, relying instead on an underfunded public education system which was not designed for the 21st century. The Manchester Innovation Activities Hub which I lead, is running funded EV skills boitcamps as part of the GMCA's SkillsForGrowth. Employers releasing staff for 8 x days of training over six weeks is often a challenge because of the same type of short term thinking outlined in your article. SMEs like ours, that have proactively repivoted and repositioned to take advantage of the massive ￡trillion global opportunities from net zero are the ones that will survive and thrive even in these uncertain times. 2 million people in the UK will need to be unskilled, reskilled or retrained over the next decade to deliver a low carbon future. This drive needs to be Business led in design and investment to ensure its fit for purpose. And it needs to begin NOW!
Lead Innovator - Hypuljet Ltd UK
2 年Hello Carl Ennis - as Lead Innovator for a SME with three innovative concept to merge into one Integrated Hydrogen Power Unit If developed successfully will be a Major Impact on Global Decarbonisation USP to produce fuel on board the EV as Part of the Unit Carl whilst I am not going to guarantee this will work - but what I will state if it is not a Full Sccess it will still outperform both Batteries and H2 Fuels Cell by a major amount Ideal for e.aircraft - with a tank of deionised water and condensor to recycle Steam exhaust to tank HyPulJet Ltd Derby