Green Skills
SOLAS is committed to integrating green skills in the Further Education and Training (FET) sector and supporting Ireland’s goal to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. FET plays pivotal role in responding to climate change by ensuring all learners develop green skills.
Since the publication of Green Skills 2030, the 1st National Further Education & Training Strategy for the Green Transition, SOLAS has been working with KPMG to develop an implementation plan. This plan maps strategic and sectoral recommendations into specific actions, in collaboration with the 16 Education & Training Boards, government departments, state agencies and industry partners. It addresses the growing need for increased green and transversal skills across the following sectors:
- Accounting and business
- Agriculture, forestry, and marine (including bioeconomy)
- Biodiversity and the environment
- Construction and built environment (including water and waste management)
- Engineering, energy, and manufacturing
- Transport and logistics
- Tourism and hospitality
The implementation plan and accompanying reporting tool will be shared with the FET sector and key stakeholders in Q3 2025.
You can read the full Green Skills 2030 strategy here.
Green Skills Programmes
FET offers extensive opportunities to develop green skills in different areas and to access growing employment prospects. There is a variety of courses available, developed by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across the country, and available for learners nationwide.
Areas include:
- Accounting & business
- Agriculture, forestry & marine
- Art & design
- Biodiversity & environment
- Construction & built environment
- Tourism & hospitality
- Engineering, energy & manufacturing
- Services
- Sports
- Transport & logistics
Find available Green Skills courses at www.fetchcourses.ie
Green Skills programmes provide many benefits to learners by:
Increasing awareness of climate justice, sustainability and bioeconomic issues
Providing training and upskilling in the latest green technologies in key sectors going through transformational change to meet requirements of the green economy such as agriculture, construction and transport
Building career opportunities in the green economy for the employed, unemployed and those in vulnerable sectors.
Green Skills Courses
Sustainability Awareness & Climate Literacy
A short and flexible Sustainability Awareness online programme available in four languages helps learners understand climate change and develop behaviours to reduce environmental impact. You can find more information about the programme here.
Short courses in topics such as biodiversity, water management and energy conservation are also available through eCollege. A range of micro-qualifications are also offered through Skills to Compete and Skills to Advance, helping learners, whether employees, employers or unemployed, to upskill and reskill to develop awareness in sustainability issues and extend career opportunities in the green economy.
Find out more about Skills to Advance Green Skills Programmes here.
Agriculture
Part-time and full-time programmes including traineeships in organic horticulture and sustainable agriculture and short courses in organic and sustainable gardening are available.
Find courses at www.fetchcourses.ie
Construction and the Built Environment
Training in cutting-edge technologies such as Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB), Retrofit, and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is available nationwide. These include starter programmes such as the NZEB Fundamental Awareness, trade-specific NZEB courses suited for post-apprenticeship and upskilling programmes developed for site supervisors, carpenters, plumbers, plasterers, electricians and bricklayers.
Centres of Excellence have been established across the country and you can find out more about them and hear about the impact the courses offered have on learners here.
The MMC programmes on offer include courses such as:
- BIM (Building Information Modelling)
- AutoCAD 2D & 3D
- Offsite Construction
- Management of Construction Projects and more
Find programme information here
Engineering and Renewable Energy
Examples of specific courses in renewable energy aiming to empower learners with skills in clean technologies include:
- SOLAR PV Awareness
- Domestic Heat Pump Systems
- Micro Solar Photovoltaic Systems Implementation
- Micro-Generator Electrical Installations
Find more about these programmes here
Transport
Full-time and part-time programmes upskilling in green energy include courses such as:
- Electric / hybrid vehicle routine maintenance
- Smart driving, bus driving
- Advanced bicycle mechanic technician
- Bike maintenance
Find available programmes at www.fetchcourses.ie
Apprenticeships
The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 encourages non-craft sectors of Irish industry to embrace the challenge and develop apprenticeships that respond to workplace changes and evolving skills needs to support the green transition.
Apprenticeships combine learning in a Further Education and Training institution with work-based learning in a company. At least 50% of the learning takes place in the workplace. Apprenticeships lead to nationally recognised qualifications.
You’ll find more information at www.apprenticeship.ie