Working Group 5: Skills

Co-leads

Rachael Rothman (University of Sheffield) and Andy Rees (Welsh Government)

Researchers

Ben Purvis (University of Sheffield)

Membership

9 additional members

The Skills Working Group explores the current skills gap in life cycle assessment (LCA) as it relates to regulatory science in the UK. The group is examining what training and education in life cycle thinking, and in interpreting LCA results, is needed by policymakers, industry professionals, students, and innovators. This involves identifying the key skills that underpin effective LCA practice, understanding who needs to develop them, and assessing how these skills are currently taught. The group is also mapping existing training opportunities across the UK and investigating the barriers to developing a well-trained LCA workforce.

Key questions

  • What is the skills gap in LCA for regulatory science (in the UK)?
  • What training and education in life cycle thinking and interpreting LCA results is needed in the UK, for policymakers, industry, students and innovators?

Working Group 5: Skills

PDF Outputs

Working Group 5: Examining the UK Skills Gap in Life Cycle Assessment

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a vital tool for understanding the environmental impacts of products, services, and policy options across industry and the public sector. While its use is expanding, driven in part by regulatory requirements, the UK faces a fragmented LCA education and training landscape.

Lead Authors Ben Purvis
Contributing Authors Rachael Rothman, Gavin Bunting, Sophie Cozien-Cazuc, Mauro Alejandro Cruz Mercado, Parnian Doostdar, Philippa Oldham, Andy Rees, Christopher Smith
2026 View PDF — Working Group 5: Examining the UK Skills Gap in Life Cycle Assessment
PDF Outputs

Working Group 5: Bridging the UK Skills Gap in Life Cycle Assessment

This report outlines three broad categories of training and education available in the UK for LCA skills: Higher Education, Short Courses, and Self-Directed Training. Following this, a series of recommendations for policy makers, industrial actors, and the wider LCA community are presented.

Lead Authors Ben Purvis
Contributing Authors Rachael Rothman, Gavin Bunting, Sophie Cozien-Cazuc, Mauro Alejandro Cruz Mercado, Parnian Doostdar, Philippa Oldham, Andy Rees, Christopher Smith
2026 View PDF — Working Group 5: Bridging the UK Skills Gap in Life Cycle Assessment