A Skills and Training Zone is to be launched at Sustainabilitylive! 2009, the UK event for innovation in the energy and environment sectors.
Sustainabilitylive! takes from place May 19-21, 2009 at the NEC Birmingham.

Sustainabilitylive! 2009 comprises:

• NEMEX - National Energy Management Exhibition
• ET - Environmental Technology event
• BEX - Brownfield Expo
• IWEX - International Water & Effluent Exhibition
• SB - Sustainable Business

The new Skills and Training Zone is being launched in response to feedback from visitors and exhibitors to Sustainabilitylive!

Event organiser Donna Bushell said: 'We discovered there was a gap in the appropriate skills and knowledge needed for the increasing number of jobs in the environmental industries. The Skills and Training zone will fill the educational gap in this fast moving and dynamic market.'

This new initiative will offer universities and training houses a platform to showcase their services and increase awareness of their brands. Visitors looking to enhance their knowledge and skills will be able to source information about courses and training.

The Skills and Training Zone is coming at a time when the UK economy needs it most. As some organisations are hit by economic downturn, industry still needs to make the transition towards more sustainable practices. This is being driven by the government's low-carbon economy which they say will create up to one million green collar jobs.

With this rise in demand for green sector workers, research has shown that pressure is already being placed on the skills market.