The UK government is providing £8.85m for energy efficiency training providers to offer courses in retrofitting and insulation
The funding will provide up to 8,000 people with the skills to make homes more energy efficient.
The energy efficiency training courses wither be free or available at a low cost. They will teach attendees how to install loft insulation and draft proofing measures, among other new skills.
It is hoped the scheme will reduce household energy bills and emissions as well as create new employment opportunities for people in the UK.
Set to run alongside the £5m Heat Training Grant; the energy efficiency training scheme is part of £6.6bn invested into improving energy efficiency across the UK.
There are plans for a further £6bn in government funding, which will be made available from 2025 to 2028 for energy efficiency initiatives.
EPC ratings in UK homes are higher than ever
Around half of the homes in England now have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C or higher.
The energy efficiency scheme will help training organisations obtain PAS 2030 certification.
This is a necessary industry specification for all energy efficiency installers who want to take part in government-funded schemes.
The training includes courses that deliver recognised qualifications such as NVQ or equivalent, as well as shorter courses that don’t deliver formal qualifications.
Ensuring millions of people across the country can enjoy a warmer, healthier home
“I am delighted to see the government is committing further funding towards retrofit skills and training through the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Competition,” said Derek Horrocks, chairman of the National Insulation Association and the National Home Decarbonisation Group.
“Achievement of energy efficiency targets is vital to ensure that millions of people across the country can enjoy a warmer, healthier home. A fundamental requirement for achieving this ambition is building a workforce of sufficient size and skill to deliver,” he continued.
The scheme builds upon £15m of previous funding for skills training given in 2020, which created over 16,000 job opportunities in the energy efficiency, retrofit, and low-carbon heating sector.
Training providers have until 25 August to apply for funding, and the scheme is due to commence later this year.
