Midlands training programme targets retrofit skills gap 

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has launched Skills for Life Bootcamps, as part of a new agreement with The Retrofit Academy. 

The partnership follows the WMCA’s successful bid for new government funding, which will see a total of £34 million allocated from the Homes Upgrade Grant (HUG) and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).  

The Skills for Life Bootcamps aim to support the careers of 230 local retrofitters. 

The programme is designed to upskill people from both an industry and non-industry background to increase the number of professionals qualified to conduct retrofitting in the region. 

The bootcamps offer funded flexible courses taking up to 16 weeks, to provide prospective retrofitters with sector-specific training on how to sustainably upgrade buildings. 

David Pierpoint, chief executive at The Retrofit Academy, said: “It is great to be establishing a partnership with a forward-thinking region for training that directly supports the decarbonisation of homes in the West Midlands.  

“Working together with regions across the UK to train up a large workforce of qualified retrofitters is going to be key to fulfilling SHDF and HUG programmes and achieving the net zero goals.” 

Funding is available for those that live or work in the West Midlands to complete the following:  

The courses aim to address the retrofit skills gap posed by a rise in demand for energy efficiency measures. 

Pierpoint added: “The Skills for Life Bootcamps provide those taking part with the opportunity to gain vital industry knowledge from our trained professionals that they can apply to future retrofit projects throughout the West Midlands. 

“As we continue to drive large-scale, high-quality retrofit, those who qualify will play a key role in leading the charge in the West Midlands.” 

For more information on the Skills Bootcamps, please click here.