Goodwill® Launches Major Green Jobs Program in Partnership with Accenture

Program will provide clean tech skilling and job placement for more than 7,000 people

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodwill, in partnership with Accenture, is launching a groundbreaking, relevant workforce training program for the most in-demand, entry-level, clean energy jobs. The Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator™ will teach employability and technical skills for jobs involving solar and storage, electric vehicle charging, heat pumps and energy efficiency.

Goodwill and Accenture, who co-designed the program, announced the initiative at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Talent Forward event and look forward to welcoming other partners in the near future. 

The Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator fills a critical talent gap by providing people with the relevant skills and certifications required for these in-demand jobs that offer opportunity for higher wages and better career advancement. Goodwill will run the program, proactively targeting under and unemployed individuals. Participants in the program will be paid as they learn through intensive, hands-on, competency-based training as well as tailored employment readiness and career placement services.

"As our labor market transitions, we see important opportunities for people to move into more promising roles with better pay. It is essential that we provide the training and other support needed to ensure people capture these opportunities," said Steve Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "The Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator will open doors for people in an expanding industry and provide support to employers who are helping us transition to a more sustainable world."

Nearly 40% of advanced energy jobs – specifically the ones targeted by the Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator – do not require college degrees and pay more than the national median salary. Through this program, Goodwill and Accenture will unlock new talent needed for the energy transition while diversifying clean energy's workforce and putting job seekers on pathways to thriving careers.

Four Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator locations will launch next year in Atlanta, Houston, Nashville and Detroit. There are also plans to scale this program to 20 cities in the next seven years – thereby training an estimated 7,000 job seekers.

"The clean energy transition is demanding new sources of talent who understand clean tech and can apply that knowledge to achieve decarbonization," said Manish Sharma, CEO of Accenture North America. "Through the Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator, we're proud to unlock skilling opportunities that are accessible to everyone, benefitting workers, industry and our local communities."

The Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator began through an Accenture Corporate Citizenship investment and is based on decades of experience training job seekers through Skills to Succeed. Key training partners include GRID Alternatives, ChargerHelp! and BlocPower. These three leading clean energy organizations are contributing curriculum and training model expertise for the program. Additional partners and investors will be joining as the initiative is scaled.

About Goodwill Industries International
Goodwill is the largest nonprofit workforce development network in the country. It works to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by strengthening communities, building bridges to opportunity and helping people in need reach their potential through learning and the power of work.

For more than 120 years, Goodwill® organizations across North America have helped people find jobs, support their families and feel the satisfaction that comes from working. There are 154 local Goodwill organizations that assist people through a variety of employment placement services, job training programs and other community-based services. Thousands of people receive employment and other human services through Goodwill and, in 2022, they helped more than 2.1 million people build skills, access resources and advance careers. 

Goodwill sells donated items in nearly 3,300 outlet and retail stores in the U.S. and Canada and online at shopgoodwill.com®, the first nonprofit internet auction site, and other online marketplaces. The revenue creates job placement and training programs to help people earn paychecks and build their careers.

For more information or to find a Goodwill location near you, visit goodwill.org. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: GoodwillIntl. Register for our Legislative Action Center goodwill.org. 

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world's leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent and innovation led company with 733,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries.

Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world's leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability.

We are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Accenture Song. These capabilities, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360° value, enable us to help our clients succeed and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360° value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

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Rhiana Sherwood
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SOURCE Goodwill Industries International