Building a Green Curriculum: Preparing the Workforce for a Sustainable Future
In this episode, we explore the role of Further Education in building a greener future and ask how education and training providers can develop the skilled workforce needed for emerging industries and environmental challenges.
As governments, businesses, and communities work towards sustainability goals, the demand for green skills continues to grow. We discuss how colleges can equip learners with the knowledge and practical experience required to succeed in sectors focused on renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, environmental management, and climate resilience.
Joining us are Charlotte Bonner, Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), and Jeremy Kerswell, CEO and Principal of Plumpton College. Together, they share insights into the opportunities and challenges facing the education sector as it seeks to support economic growth, environmental sustainability, and workforce transformation.
The conversation examines how Further Education can drive innovation, support reskilling and upskilling initiatives, and help address major global challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security.
About Charlotte Bonner
Charlotte Bonner is the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), where she provides strategic leadership for the organisation and its mission to embed sustainability across the post-16 education sector.
With more than fifteen years of leadership experience across membership organisations and tertiary education, Charlotte has built a reputation for driving business development, transformational engagement, policy influence, and sustainability initiatives.
Prior to joining EAUC, Charlotte served as the Education and Training Foundation’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Lead. Before that, she played a significant role within the National Union of Students (NUS), helping to establish and manage the award-winning Green Impact programme, which received UNESCO recognition for its contribution to sustainable development education.
Charlotte is also a co-founder of Students Organising for Sustainability International and has previously held teaching and consultancy roles focused on sustainability and environmental innovation. She holds an MSc in Energy and Environmental Technologies, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), and serves as a board member of Change Agents UK.
About Jeremy Kerswell
Jeremy Kerswell is the CEO and Principal of Plumpton College, a leading land-based college in East Sussex, a position he has held since October 2015.
Having worked across both the Further Education and Higher Education sectors in England for nearly two decades, Jeremy brings extensive experience in educational leadership and land-based learning. Raised on a small holding in West Sussex, he developed an early appreciation for the countryside, wildlife, and agriculture, interests that would later shape his professional career.
Jeremy studied Animal Science at the University of Reading before gaining experience in both the agricultural and animal industries. He subsequently moved into education, combining his passion for the natural environment with a commitment to developing future generations of skilled professionals.
Under Jeremy’s leadership, Plumpton College has continued to expand its reputation for excellence in land-based education, offering programmes from entry level through to master’s degrees. The college’s extensive estate provides students with hands-on learning opportunities and serves as a living model for sustainable land management, environmental stewardship, and innovative agricultural practices.
Through its practical approach to sustainability and skills development, Plumpton College demonstrates how education can play a critical role in supporting the transition to a greener economy.
