University of Southampton hosts Greenprint conference
More than 100 business, community, local authority and education leaders from across the South attended the inaugural Greenprint Conference to contribute their support for the region to become a centre for green skills.
Hosted by the University of Southampton, the Greenprint conference explored the challenges and opportunities for developing green skills in the region, with expert speakers, a panel discussion and workshop sessions.
Delegates were welcomed by Vice President of the University of Southampton, Professor Mark Spearing and Councillor Seán Woodward, Leader of Fareham Borough Council & Chairman of Partnership for South Hampshire.
Councillor Woodward said: "I'm absolutely delighted to have been part of Greenprint from the start. We can only ever achieve Greenprint's aims through collaboration, and I'm pleased to see so many people here today, and online, which show there's a real determination and focus on activity that will benefit our communities.
"I welcome Greenprint's strong emphasis on the value of nature and what it can do for our economy, people's wellbeing, as well as our sense of identity and sense of place."
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The Greenprint framework reflects the characteristics of the area – from the coastline and national parks to the urban, suburban and rural communities. Following the conference, Greenprint will ‘feed forward’ ideas from the event in an attempt to create change in the Solent.
This Greenprint framework is listed (as described by Solent LEP) as follows: Net zero with nature (working with nature to build a zero carbon economy and community), Natural health service (improving physical and mental health through greater access to the region's natural environments), World class blue/green environments (protecting the region's blue and green environments), Creating great places through quality in design and build, and making the region a 'centre for excellence in green skills and jobs'.
Chair of Greenprint and Chief Executive Officer of the New Forest National Park Authority, Alison Barnes, said: ''This is our opportunity to be at the forefront of international and national agendas on climate, nature, and the green economy, as well as delivering for our own communities.
"We must focus on becoming a centre for excellence in green skills and jobs to enable us to deliver our vision. Greenprint is about collaborating and broadening our conversations to activate our potential, to galvanise and enthuse partners, organisations and individuals to work together and drive the change.
"We need to build a future workforce which can seize the opportunities offered by innovation in key sectors, including zero carbon economy, land management and the visitor economy.”
