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Key recommendations include expanding training provision and integrating retrofit skills into all construction courses
A new report, titled Closing the Retrofit Skills Gap, has been released to highlight the barriers and opportunities in retrofit training.
The report, published by Gatsby Education in collaboration with the Ashden Trust and the National Retrofit Hub, features analysis of the progress made in retrofit skills development between 2023 and 2024 and what can be done to close the skills gap.
It highlights the need for a National Retrofit Strategy to build a skilled workforce capable of retrofitting millions of homes for improved energy efficiency.
Recommendations include:
- Expanding and supporting retrofit training, including integrating retrofit skills into all construction courses.
- Raising SME awareness and incentivising their participation.
- Setting a higher bar for quality by mandating training for professionals working on retrofit schemes.
Green Skills Advisory Panel
The report also features case studies, including a focus on the establishment of the Green Skills Advisory Panel (GSAP), originally set up by Exeter College and supported by NOCN Group to address the challenge of retrofitting 40,000 homes in Exeter.
GSAP in the south-west brings together building services, housing and construction businesses with government agencies, charities and training providers.
New GSAP groups are now being set up in England and Wales, and a national board has been established.
In the report Luke Moss, Exeter College’s skills and employer project manager, explains what this has meant for the college: “Our training provision is directly shaped by the priorities of our valued stakeholders.
“Using insights gathered through GSAP summits and skills surveys, we have developed a clear skills strategy focused on key areas such as retrofit, insulation, renewable technologies, and water conservation.
“We’ve designed entirely new courses, including our insulation programmes, tailored for the existing workforce requiring upskilling to meet PAS:2030 standards.”
