Green Skills Lab: WJ Group

• Uncategorized
• Healthy_Environment
• Just Transition
• Green Skills

WJ Group is the UK’s leading and most trusted road marking and highway safety business, supporting strategic road networks, local authorities, and off-highway markets by providing solutions that create safe, sustainable journeys for everyone. 

The issue 

Approximately 30% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to construction and infrastructure. WJ Group’s commitment to its sustainability strategy – covering the environment, people, and communities – is reflected in its long-standing effort to reduce emissions produced through its operations and supply chain. The business aims to be net zero Scope 1 & 2 by 2032, completing the journey by 2040 and has developed a plan, working together with its suppliers and partners to achieve this goal.  

As part of its net zero plan, the business identified a range of green competencies and skills required to achieve the highest energy efficiency and carbon reduction levels. To make progress, the business realised it needed to take targeted action next. With manufacturing, R&D and operations work to enable innovations with electric vehicle transitions and increasing advances with zero carbon materials using biogenic alternatives to hydrocarbon-based products.  

What the company did 

WJ Group’s ongoing net zero mission is integrated with delivering social impact and recognises the importance of caring for people in the process. Collaborating with its workforce, supply chain, local authorities and engaging with communities helps achieve its vision for a Just Transition.

Reducing emissions is a top priority for the organisation. WJ Group works towards achieving this by pursuing innovation in its products and implementing processes, aligning its Greenhouse Gas Management System to a series of standards, such as ISO 14064 and PAS 2080. 

Maintaining these standards ensures transparency and aligns to both the sector and wider global goals. Product and engineering innovation give WJ Group clarity on the specific technical skills needed, within electric vehicle maintenance and resource management, along with a broad range of essential competencies that can drive an efficient green transition. Simultaneously, employees are assigned different or new responsibilities to meet targets in their respective working areas, supporting the organisations environmental performance overall. 

Acknowledging the need for these green skills within the workforce, WJ Group carries out continuous maturity assessments to understand its employees’ capacity and skills to perform, according to standards and certifications. To fill skills gaps, the business offers upskilling opportunities to engineers and general staff and is helping all employees develop carbon literacy to understand their impact on WJ Group’s road to net zero.  

The next step is shaping a complete inclusive training piece in collaboration with its diverse stakeholder community to ensure those most at risk are upskilled and continue working and simplifying jargon and definitions, whilst taking advantage of the power of storytelling to capture and communicate the opportunities.  

Reflection on Green Skills Lab  

“Through the lab, the business is embracing the new skills required for the Just Transition, educating and upskilling our people so they are leaders and not left behind,”  Steph Wheat, Head of People, WJ Group. 

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