Retrofit Academy enrolls 5,000th learner 

The Retrofit Academy has announced that it has enrolled more than 5,000 learners to its retrofit training courses.   

The newly qualified retrofit advisors, assessors and coordinators, can work with or for local authorities, housing associations and their contractors.   

Founded in 2016, the Retrofit Academy provides workforce resources and training to support the decarbonisation of homes at scale. 

As a workforce development partner, the Retrofit Academy also collaborates with social housing landlords, local authorities and building contractors tasked with meeting the government’s net zero targets.   

To achieve net zero by 2050, an estimated 400,000 qualified retrofitters are needed to carry out large-scale retrofitting of homes. The Retrofit Academy aims to train half of these by 2030. 

David Pierpoint, chief executive at the Retrofit Academy, said: “Decarbonising millions of existing homes is vital if we are to fulfil the government’s aim of achieving net zero by 2050. To ensure this goal is reached, we need to collaborate and work together to have enough qualified personnel to carry out retrofit at scale. 

“While we’re pleased to have passed the milestone of enrolling 5,000 professionals to be trained as skilled and qualified retrofitters, work is well underway to ensure we reach our goal of 200,000 by the end of the decade. By continuing as the driving force in retrofit knowledge and skills, we can help to achieve net zero.”