Net-zero is under jeopardy - there aren't enough green workers to deliver it. The world needs over 30 million more green workers by 2030 to stay on the net-zero pathway.

These green workers are crucial for building national green infrastructure. For example, to make electric vehicles (EVs) work for consumers, the UK needs 10x more EV charge points by 2030, with 6.9 million more people needed globally to work on EVs.

This green skills gap hurts UK companies on the net-zero frontline. 58% of employers don't have enough electrotechnical workers for their current low-carbon work, and only 10% could meet a significant increase in low-carbon work with their current workforce.

This problem - not enough green workers to fulfil industry demand and net-zero need - has two core causes. Firstly, career awareness is low. 69% of electrotechnical employers believe that young people are unaware of opportunities. Secondly, there's not enough training. Only 3% of electrotechnical employers think there is sufficient industry training for all of their low-carbon work.

At greenworkx, our mission is to provide companies rapid access to the net-zero workers that they need - with a moonshot goal of training 10 million green workers in 10 years.

greenworkx is a UK edtech startup run by experts in training, technology, government and entrepreneurship. Our combined experience includes leading on policy at the heart of government at Number 10, running employment programmes for the Mayor of London's office, and training software engineers for Multiverse (the UK's most successful edtech startup).

We're using the 'recruit-train-deploy' model which has been proven by billion-pound companies and applying it to net-zero skills. Firstly, we recruit jobseekers: they don't need any experience, only the commitment to learning and a hunger for a good, green job. Next, we put them through accelerated training for the green skills that are in-demand by our customers (employers, such as energy companies). Finally, we service our customers with a skilled green workforce, and provide well-paid employment to our newly-trained green workers.

This project covers a pilot recruit-train-deploy operation of EV chargepoint installers alongside a scoping exercise for how digital technologies like AI and AR/VR can enable us to scale our training with the required volume and velocity needed to deliver net-zero.

The investment will benefit the UK economically, environmentally and socially by directly supporting businesses to hire workers, carry out net-zero work, and level up green infrastructure nationally.