World Youth Skills Day is a chance to recognise the skills young people need to shape a shared future - from science, technology and AI to green skills, communication and collaboration.
At the Met Office, that shared future depends on people with different experiences, perspectives and ideas working together to turn weather and climate science into services that help people stay safe and thrive.
Professor Kirstine Dale, Met Office Chief AI Officer, highlights in a series of blogs how the rapid growth of AI gives organisations an opportunity to reset who gets to shape the future of technology, and ensure innovation is diverse, responsible and environmentally aware.
Kirstine explains how diverse and different perspectives are essential in solving complex challenges such as climate change, food, energy and water security, and biodiversity. She also champions the importance of environmentally responsible AI, noting that AI can help improve weather forecasting, climate modelling and resilience to extreme weather, but it also brings environmental costs through energy use, carbon emissions and water consumption. That makes green or environmentally responsible AI an important part of the skills conversation for the next generation.
We support young people to explore possibilities like these through education outreach, work experience, apprenticeships, industrial placements, summer internships and graduate schemes. These opportunities help build the long-term skills our organisation needs while widening access to careers in science, technology, operations and corporate professions.
We are also working with partners to make skills pathways more visible and accessible.
For example, we’ve teamed up with Springpod, a specialist careers platform, to offer insight into the work of the Met Office. This online work experience is available year round and is designed to develop knowledge and skills and provides the opportunity for young people to tap into individualised support from Met Office staff across the organisation via an integrated online chat system. 91% of participants report that their work-related skills and knowledge increase while undertaking the programme, after which students are eligible to apply for our in-person work experience opportunities.
Through the South West Connector Platform, the Met Office is helping make digital and tech career pathways more visible and accessible across the region. Developed with Microsoft, the South West Institute of Technology and Tech South West, the platform brings digital learning, apprenticeships, work experience, internships and career opportunities into one place. It forms part of a wider programme of social value initiatives delivered through the Met Office’s strategic partnership with Microsoft, linked to the organisation’s supercomputing collaboration and its commitment to ensuring local communities benefit from investment in emerging digital and AI-driven capabilities.
As a Great Place to Work UK-certified organisation, we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where people can learn, develop and contribute to meaningful work. By investing in education outreach, early careers and partnerships, we want to help more young people see a future for themselves in weather, climate, science and technology, helping build the skills needed for a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable future.
Read Kirstine Dale’s blog: From leaky pipelines to launchpads: why diversity is the missing link in tech’s AI revolution
Read Kirstine Dales blog: Can AI developments really be green?
More about early careers at the Met Office
