29 JUL 2023

Multimillion-pound competition launched for net zero training

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has launched a multimillion-pound competition to subsidise specialist net zero courses in retrofitting and energy efficiency in England.

 The £8.85 million package aims to heavily subsidise training courses for individuals aspiring to become retrofit and insulation experts. Training providers can apply for up to £1 million to run these courses, which will train up to 8,000 people in retrofitting homes with energy-saving measures. The courses will be held from September to March 2024, as part of the government's efforts to achieve its net-zero target by 2050.

The fund not only covers the costs of the training courses but also includes trainers' expenses like accommodation and transport, as well as any costs incurred by the trainees for accommodation or transport. The courses can be conducted either online or in person. The primary focus of the funded courses will be on home insulation, with plans to support around 5,000 training packages, while the remaining will concentrate on retrofit work.

The project is being led by the Midlands Net Zero Hub, which will oversee the training centres, ensuring the right courses are provided with appropriate accreditation. The hub has the authority to withdraw funding from providers that fail to meet expectations, but it will first offer supportive steps to struggling providers.

The Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, Lord Callanan, emphasised that this initiative will help create a skilled workforce ready to contribute to the rapidly growing market for energy-efficient solutions, benefiting both the environment and individuals by reducing energy bills.