There is a wide range of green jobs to look out for, but the main sectors for green jobs in Surrey cover everything from sustainable power to professional services to the natural environment. There are jobs suitable for people just starting their career and also experienced professionals wanting to use their knowledge and skills to help address climate change and wider sustainability issues. Jobs are available working indoors and outdoors, in skilled trades and technical roles.
| Sector | What is this | Estimated number of green jobs in Surrey (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Reduce, reuse, recycle and repair | Including waste management (diversion from landfills) and circular economy. | 6,978 |
| Power | Including renewables (such as wind, solar and hydropower), nuclear power, grid infrastructure, energy storage and smart systems technology. | 5,441 |
| Homes and buildings | Including retrofit, building new energy-efficient homes, heat pumps, smart devices and controls, heat networks and hydrogen boilers. | 2,766 |
| Climate adaptation | Including flood defences, retrofitting of buildings to be resilient to extreme weather and climate events, nature-based solutions to reduce climate impacts and civil and mechanical engineering for infrastructure adaptation. | 2,623 |
| Industrial decarbonisation | Including helping industrial settings to improve energy efficiency, hydrogen production for industrial use, electrification of industrial processes and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). | 2,159 |
| Green financial, professional and research services | Including climate change research and development, supporting businesses with climate change strategies and policies, monitoring and reducing localised pollution such as air and water. | 927 |
| Low carbon transport | Including low or zero emission vehicles, aviation, maritime, rail and road; public transport, walking and cycling. | 247 |
| Natural environment | Activities that enhance the natural environment, often reducing carbon generation including woodland planting, restoring peatland, wetland restoration and habitat protection. | 164 |
Below are some of the green jobs in Surrey to look out for now and in the future. Some of these are in the sectors listed above and others will be available across a range of businesses
| Job | What is this and why is it green? |
|---|---|
| Environment professionals | Reducing impacts for human activities and industrial processes on the environment through investigating and advising on environmental issues on land and in the sea. |
| Sales and business development managers | An increasing number of these will be required in green companies to build relationships with customers, suppliers and partners to help make businesses more green. |
| Physical and biological scientists | Investigating new, low-carbon materials or sustainable energy sources. Being a key player in conversations about the environment. |
| Engineers | Developing energy efficient process for different industries. |
| Electricians | Designing and installing solar panels or electric vehicle charging points. |
| Construction production managers | Reducing the amount of materials used or waste produced in construction, or choose more environmentally sustainable materials or processes. |
| Refuse and salvage occupations | Maximising the reuse or recycling of waste coming from homes and businesses. |
| Vehicle technicians | Maintaining electric vehicles and other low carbon vehicles. |