Green skills in the workplace – what it means for SMEs

“Every job will be a climate job”. I remember the first time I heard Kamal Kapadia, founder of Terra.Do climate school say this. Her passion and the truth of that sentence is what led me to choose to study with Terra.Do. And she isn’t wrong.

Every job is becoming a climate job.

Owners and leaders of small and medium-sized businesses are now having to think about their organisation’s environmental impact simply to stay competitive. They need green skills - but what exactly does that mean?

What are green skills

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation define green skills as “the knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society”.

For small and medium businesses, green skills mean having the knowledge and abilities to understand your organisation’s impact on the environment and how to reduce it. This includes ensuring you use energy, water, fuel and resources efficiently, choosing responsible suppliers, and reducing waste. The exact scope will depend on your business model, but the principle is the same: understanding your impact and taking practical steps to minimise it.  

Why green skills are important for SMEs

Green skills are becoming essential for SMEs because they’re now directly tied to winning and keeping work.

Large businesses increasingly require their suppliers to provide accurate emissions data, evidence of environmental action, and credible plans for reducing impact. Smaller businesses without the skills to measure, track, and report this are finding themselves at a disadvantage.

The same shift is happening in the public sector: local authorities and councils routinely include sustainability questions in tender documents, asking for details on carbon footprints, waste management, resource efficiency, and social value.

This shift isn’t slowing down; if anything, it’s accelerating as both public and private sector buyers face their own net‑zero requirements.

Green skills give businesses the confidence and capability to respond to these requirements, avoid accidental greenwashing, and demonstrate that they can meet modern procurement standards. In a marketplace where buyers are under pressure to decarbonise their supply chains, green skills aren’t just good practice — they’re becoming core business competencies that determine who gets shortlisted and who gets left behind.

How green skills benefit your business

As well as helping you to win and maintain work, developing and strengthening the green skills in your organisation brings further benefits.

Green skills help organisations reduce waste, tackle inefficiencies and therefore reduce costs. They can help your business to become more resilient as you become more aware of the risks climate change can pose to your business, from flooding, heatwaves and wildfires to supply chain disruptions and more.

They also build confidence across your team — giving people the practical know‑how to measure your impact, understand your data, and make better day‑to‑day decisions that protect your business. Over time, these skills strengthen your reputation with customers, suppliers and funders, showing that you’re proactive, reliable and aligned with modern expectations. In short, green skills don’t just help you meet requirements; they help you run a smarter, leaner and more future‑ready business.

How to upskill and develop green skills

There is a huge range of courses, workshops and webinars available when you look online so you should be able to find something that meets your needs.

Another option for smaller businesses is to hire and work alongside a consultant who will help you develop these skills and knowledge in your business. Having someone to guide you through things such as waste audits, calculating carbon footprints, building environmental management systems and engaging stakeholders will allow you to build the knowledge, skills and confidence as you go. This can be invaluable for a small business.

Having a consultant with the deep experience in this field to act as a sounding board will also help you make better decisions much more quickly.

For many small and medium‑sized businesses, this “learning by doing” approach — with someone guiding you through real tasks in your own business — is far more effective than generic online training.

The 7 most important green skills for SMEs in 2026

Here is a quick rundown of what I see as the most important green skills from small and medium businesses this year:

1. Environmental literacy

Start by understanding the basics: waste, the energy, fuel and water used by your business, the waste generated and your carbon footprint.  This is the foundation for every sustainability decision.

2. Resource efficiency

Develop the skills to reduce energy, water and materials use. These are the quickest, lowest‑cost wins for SMEs — and often the most impactful. If you are unsure where to start look for a training course or hire a consultant to support you.

3. Waste reduction

Knowing how to prevent waste, reuse materials, and improve recycling. Waste is simply lost value, and customers increasingly expect better.

4. Sustainable procurement

Choosing suppliers, products and services with lower environmental impact. This is becoming essential for tendering and supply‑chain compliance.

5. Sustainable communication

Talking about your sustainability actions clearly and honestly. This helps you avoid greenwashing and build real trust.

6. Green finance literacy

Understanding grants, green loans, and funding options. Many SMEs miss out simply because they don’t know what’s available. Speak to the business support team at your local council or contact your Chamber of Commerce to find out what’s available in your area.

7. Sustainability project management

The structured way of planning, delivering and tracking your environmental actions so they actually happen — and keep happening. For small and medium‑sized businesses, it’s one of the most valuable green skills because it turns good intentions into real, measurable progress.

Hiring a consultant to help you develop your green skills

If you’d like support building these skills in your organisation, working with a sustainability consultant can make the process faster, easier and far more effective.

I work with small and medium‑sized businesses as a practical, hands‑on sustainability partner — helping you understand your impact, build the right systems, and develop the confidence to meet customer and procurement expectations.

Whether you need help with carbon measurement, waste audits, environmental management systems, tender responses, or simply someone to guide you step by step, I can support you. You don’t need to figure this out alone. If you’re ready to strengthen your green skills and future‑proof your business, you can explore my services here.

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About the Author

Sophie Wragg is a sustainability consultant, ISO 14001 Lead Auditor, and author of Sustainable Business. She has supported more than 200 SMEs through the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce and helped secure over £500k in decarbonisation funding. Sophie spoke at the Big Zero Show 2024 and was named Best New Business at the Mansfield & Ashfield Business Network Awards 2025. She brings clarity, calm, and practical guidance to organisations who want to make meaningful, achievable progress.