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New pilot schemes will to help coordinate retrofit skills development in the region
Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) is partnering with local authorities in the Midlands to support green skills across the region.
The partnership involves Bolsover District Council, East Lindsey District Council and Birmingham City Council.
Appointed to support three retrofit skills development pilots funded by the Midlands Net Zero Hub, RLB’s sustainability team has helped the three councils gain more than £450,000 funding from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.
Following a research pilot undertaken by RLB to assess the retrofit skills needed in the region, the funding will enable:
- Pilot regional resource to coordinate retrofit skills development between local authorities, employers and education providers
- Investment in colleges to provide low carbon technology training equipment and training for tutors and lecturers
- A permanent retrofit employers’ forum for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
- Creation of a collaborative retrofit regional careers pathway strategy and careers engagement materials targeting young people and SMEs
Peter Hayakawa, sustainability associate at RLB, said: “Retrofitting our housing stock is one of the elephants in the room for UK net zero.
“The need to triple our current retrofit workforce to achieve these targets represents a challenge but also huge opportunities for regional green economic development as well as young people, SMEs and the existing workforce.
“We’re proud to work with Bolsover, Birmingham, and East Lindsey councils that are leading the way for the Midlands on this agenda."
