Shaping the Future of the Green Space Sector
The Green Space Skills Hub brings together sector leaders, employers and partners to explore how we can build a more accessible, inclusive and skilled green space workforce.
The Green Space Skills Hub recently hosted Shaping the Future of the Green Space Sector at Riverside East, bringing together employers, partners and organisations from across London for an evening of collaboration, conversation and inspiration.
The event also marked an exciting new chapter for the Green Space Skills Hub, following the announcement of continued funding from The National Lottery Community Fund of £346k. As the Hub looks ahead to the next three years, the evening provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made so far while inviting the sector to help shape what comes next.
Bringing the sector together
The evening focused on one shared ambition: creating a green space sector that is more accessible, inclusive and equipped with the skills needed for the future.
Through discussions with employers, training providers and sector partners, attendees explored the opportunities and challenges facing the industry, including how we can bridge skills gaps, attract a more diverse workforce and create clearer pathways into green careers.
The event featured a panel of speakers representing organisations from across the sector, including Groundwork London, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), and idverde, who shared their perspectives on the future of the industry and the importance of working together to support the next generation of green space professionals.
Celebrating the Gardening Green Skills graduates
One of the highlights of the evening was hearing directly from LLDC’s Gardening Green Skills graduates during a live Q&A session.
Graduates reflected on their experiences throughout the programme, sharing how practical training, industry experience and employer support had helped them develop new skills, build confidence and move towards employment within the sector.
Their stories demonstrated the value of investing in training that provides not only technical knowledge but genuine opportunities to begin a career in green spaces.
The graduation also offered a chance to celebrate the achievements of every learner and recognise the commitment they had shown throughout the programme.
Capturing the spirit of the evening
The event concluded with something a little different.
Climate poet Liv Torc from Hot Poets brought together the voices of everyone in the room to create a collaborative poem inspired by one simple question: What do green spaces mean to you?
Working with scientists, farmers, engineers, policy makers and environmental organisations, Hot Poets use spoken word to communicate climate action in creative and engaging ways. Liv’s collaborative poem perfectly captured the passion, optimism and shared purpose that defined the evening, reminding everyone why green spaces matter to people, communities and the environment.
Looking ahead
Shaping the Future of the Green Space Sector reinforced the importance of partnership in creating meaningful change.
Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed to the discussions and helped make the event such a success.
This is just the beginning. As the Green Space Skills Hub enters its next phase, we’ll continue working alongside employers, partners and training providers to create more opportunities, strengthen pathways into green careers and build a more accessible and inclusive sector.
If you’d like to be part of the conversation, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our website to explore our programmes, discover partnership opportunities and sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest news and events.