Nature-based jobs and skills Implementation Plan 2024-25

(Update: April 2024 – March 2025)

Introduction

Evidence shows that the workforce required to implement the nature-based solutions we need to support net zero by 2045 is currently insufficient in terms of numbers and skills. To begin to address this, we published an initial Action Plan in July 2021. 

This updated plan reflects progress up to April 2024 and highlights some key actions for 24/25. The over-arching context for this work is provided by NSET (National Strategy for Economic Transformation), CESAP (Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan), the current and emerging Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) and the principles of the Just Transition. As with the initial plan, the updated Action Plan does not attempt to capture all activity within the nature based sector but to focus on areas where there are specific gaps, where progress is possible in the short-term and where NatureScot can add the most value. We will publish summaries of progress with these actions (and other relevant activities) every 12 months.

Natural capital has been identified as one of the four wealth generators in Scotland’s green recovery, with research showing that investments in natural capital are one of the most effective ways to generate economic multipliers, create jobs and address climate change.

NatureScot’s initial assessment of nature-based jobs and skills concluded that a clear focus on nature-based jobs (see Annex 1 for examples of nature-based jobs), their economic potential, workforce and skills requirements, is needed to enable the nature-based sector to play its part in providing fair work and tackling inequalities in a low carbon and green economy. It identified that the nature-based sector makes a significant contribution to the Scottish economy amounting to 195,000 jobs or 7.5% of Scotland’s workforce in 2019.  Nature-based jobs grew at more than five times the rate of all jobs in Scotland in the period 2015-19 and accounted for one third of all job growth in Scotland in this period.

Significant further growth in nature-based jobs is anticipated on the back of expansion in activities required to meet our net zero targets. Between now and 2030, growth in nature-based sectors such as peatland restoration, green infrastructure, woodland creation & restoration and blue carbon is expected to be significant,  particularly given the increased recognition of nature-based solutions in the Climate Change Plan Update.

Our Corporate Plan ambition sets the broad context and timescale for our work as follows:

• By acting now we will promote understanding and awareness of skills and capacity needs for the nature based sector.
• By 2026, skills needs for the nature based sector are mainstreamed and aligned with skills policy, planning and delivery partners
• By 2030 sufficient skills and capacity for the nature based sector are in place to implement nature based solutions.

We identify four priority themes where we can add value, and where there are evident gaps:

1. Strategic Engagement – to work with stakeholders to help identify and support the mainstreaming of skills required for the implementation of nature-based solutions across the Scottish economy.
2. Engaging and inspiring young people – to support and empower young people gaining skills and accessing employment in nature-based sectors. This includes providing opportunities for regular and frequent contact with nature throughout their school career. Co-design with young people and educators will play an important part in developing the action needed.
3. Understanding demand – work to better understand current and future skills gaps and shortages including at a regional level and in key sectors.  This will help ensure that that skills relevant to implementation of nature-based solutions are being developed and supported throughout a range of disciplines.
4. Supporting skills development– to lead a collaborative approach to addressing skills shortages in nature restoration to support a just transition to a low-carbon economy.

Progress 23/24

Highlights include the following:

• Over 100 students attended a ‘Meet the Nature Professionals’ online session as part of Careers Week in November. 
• A ‘nature jobs’ CPD session was delivered to AGCAS Scotland Careers Advisers in September, in partnership with CIEEM and Scottish Forestry.
• Graphics showing the progression pathway into nature-based sectors were completed. The initial focus was on pathways to Peatland Restoration and River Restoration jobs.
• NatureScot’s STEM Strategy is now being implemented, with 15 NatureScot STEM ambassadors recruited in the first cohort.
• Eight, 3 minute videos showcasing a range of nature based jobs were completed and promoted. These received very positive feedback from a range of key stakeholders including Careers Advisors. These have had 3000 views as of the end of March 24.
• Nature Discovery Map Scotland (NDMS) pilot project was completed. This app is designed to engage and empower students to maximise their school grounds and improve them for nature and climate resilience.
• NatureScot established, in partnership with SRUC a short course (two, one-week blocks) “Peatland Assessment & Restoration”. There have been 5 cohorts to date with 72 attendees in total.
• NatureScot and Peatland Action continue to roll out the Peatland restoration new entrants scheme. This is a 6 week work-based learning scheme for individuals wanting to enter the sector.
• NatureScot and Peatland Action partners have delivered a range of “hands on” training events on e.g. bare peat restoration, developing design skills and machine-based restoration techniques.
• NatureScot and Peatland Action partners have developed a CPD programme covering all aspects of peatland restoration project design and delivery. 
• NatureScot and Peatland Action partners have provided tenderer support training for new entrants and have reviewed all tender documentation to remove unnecessary barriers to new entrants.
• NatureScots engagement with the review of land-based apprenticeships resulted in six new ‘Work Situations’: Muirburn; Carrying out Peatland Restoration; Planning Peatland Restoration; Sustainable Soil Management, Conservation Grazing; Managing Wildflower Rich Grassland and a re-branding to ‘Land and Nature Apprenticeships’.
• NatureScot have agreed to commit to the Routemap towards greater ethnic diversity in the nature-based sector as part of our overall work on Equality Diversity and Inclusion.
• Training and Sharing Good Practice Events delivered included: Nature Recovery in Parks, Naturalising amenity grassland, Promoting Biodiversity on or near Homes, Wild Deer Best Practice Day, Woodland Herbivore Impact Assessment, GIS training for River Managers, Pearl mussel surveying, Soilmentor Soil Assessment Training for Land Managers

Theme 1: Strategic Engagement.

Provide advice and leadership

Action

• Seek to ensure that the need for more nature-based skills are reflected in the preparation of Scotland’s Rural Delivery Plan
• Contribute to preparation of the Just Transition Plan for Agriculture and Land Use 
• Work with Higher Education Institutions to help ensure course content relevant to the needs of the land and nature-based sector
• Engage with AKIS (Agriculture Knowledge Information Service) Review

Theme 2: Engaging and Inspiring Young People.

Careers advice

• Engage with careers advisory networks to support development of advice and professional learning on careers in developing and emerging nature-based sectors.

Pathways into Nature-based sectors

• Develop information and graphics showing the progression pathway into nature-based sectors through the education and skills system.
• Develop the capacity of our cohort of Stem Ambassadors to champion nature literacy in schools and colleges
• Complete a Skills Audit of one of the Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention projects and produce a graphic to raise awareness of the range of nature-based jobs involved

Volunteering

• Explore ways to connect a diverse range of potential volunteers with volunteer opportunities in NatureScot and more widely across the nature-based sector, through engagement with the Make Your Mark volunteering network.
• Contribute to the development of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy national frameworks for volunteering and citizen science and grow our volunteer activity across NatureScot.

Inspiring Young People through Outdoor Learning

• Promote and support regular, frequent and high quality outdoor learning experiences and connection with nature for all children and young people 3-18. This includes a progression of place based experiences from local sites to special places for nature.
• Engage with Strategic Working Group on Outdoor Learning to ensure that all children receive entitlements to outdoor learning in all its forms
• Provide professional learning for educators to highlight learner pathways in the nature-based sector.
• Provide resources and information to pupils, schools, and the wider school community about opportunities in the nature-based sector and the skills required.

Learning Frameworks

• Help raise the level of climate and nature literacy in young people and inspire more to take up nature-based employment.
• Work with partners to promote new apprenticeship frameworks and increase the number of Land & Nature apprenticeships and apprentices

Theme 3: Understanding demand

Evidence gathering

• Better understand the nature and scale of key skills gaps related to SBS outcomes for NatureScot and our key partners

Equality, Diversity  & inclusion (EDI) within nature based sector - partnership to action change

• Use our reputation and influence to lead on and advocate for improving EDI in the nature-based sector.
• Ensure EDI in all aspects of our projects and those we support or fund, and influence others to do the same.
• Inform UK partners and others that Naturescot has committed to the Route Map towards more ethnic diversity in the Nature-based sector and engage with Routemap communities of practice

Theme 4: Supporting skills development

Development of skills in green finance for the implementation of nature-based solutions

• Engage with land managers to promote and support understanding of nature based finance opportunities.

Trial new approaches to upskilling in sectors where climate and nature actions will require new skills

• Evaluate and promote the success of the 23/24 Working with Rivers Training Placement Scheme cohort
• Devise and deliver a Nature Restoration Skills Programme for 24/25, with stronger links to SBS vision for nature.
• Deliver Sharing Good Practice Events related to Nature-positive greenspace management of social housing greenspace and greenspace on higher education campuses.
• Deliver ‘Training the trainers’ events on soil assessment and sustainable soil management.

Capacity in advisory services in relation to nature and climate advice

• Working with partners and stakeholders, identify any training needs and opportunities for skills and knowledge development in regenerative agriculture and agro-ecology.

Supporting the development of skills for peatland restoration

• Support crofting communities to enable them to engage more actively in Peatland Action
• Develop training capacity and training the trainer capacity.
• Develop peatland restoration design capacity
• Develop contractor capacity.
• Support talent attraction and develop and secure future workforce.

Integrate skills and training into NatureScot activity  

• Develop the role of National Nature Reserves in the provision of land-use skills and training
• Explore the role of the Nature Restoration fund in supporting skills development, training and volunteering.
• Explore how NRF might support skills and training.