Green collar training scheme launched in north-east
A new green collar training scheme dedicated solely to electric vehicles has been launched by a company based in the north-east of England.
Smith Electric Vehicles is to offer a four-year course at its headquarters in Washington in order to allow engineers to learn more about the green industry.
Geoff Allison, managing director of Smith Electric Vehicles, said green collar training schemes are necessary in order to train up workers to fill the green jobs of the future.
Mick Brophy, managing director for business, innovation and development at Gateshead College, said: "It's estimated that by 2020 there'll be up to 400,000 new green jobs in the UK."
He added that green collar training schemes such as the one launched by Smith Electric Vehicles will help to equip the north-east's workforce with the skills to meet rising demand for green technologies.
Last month, regional development agency One North East found that almost three-quarters of people who took a test drive in an electric vehicle would use it as their regular car.
Posted by David Smith
10 Jun 2010 11:25am