Free or subsidised training available under the Green Homes Grant skills training competition scheme
Tradespeople can apply for training in home energy retrofitting and low carbon heat insulation to help acquire the required accreditations for work under the Green Homes Grant.
Tradespeople can apply for free or subsidised training in home energy retrofitting and low carbon heat installation.
The training is designed to get tradespeople professionally trained to deliver the government’s Green Home Grant scheme, which allows homeowners and landlords to apply for vouchers to contribute to the cost of energy-saving home improvements.
The training is being given by various training providers across England.
Who the training is for
The training is for tradespeople or businesses who install energy efficient measures (such as solid wall insulation) or low-carbon heating measures (such as heat pumps).
It is expected that tradespeople will go on to carry out work under the Green Homes Grant scheme following the completion of the training.
How to apply
There are 17 training providers to choose from, offering a range of different training packages. Visit the training provider’s website for specific eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Training providers
BESA Academy
The training covers domestic heat pumps.
BESA will provide training to upskill 700 currently qualified plumbing and heating engineers to correctly install and maintain domestic heat pumps.
Training will be available from early March to mid-May 2021. Training can be undertaken online and at a number of training centres in England.
Sign up for training on the BESA Academy website.
Building Our Skills Academy Limited
The training covers non-insulation fabric measures.
Attendees to the programme will undergo 3 days of training. At the end of the training, attendees will be competent to fit windows and doors, glaze and re-glaze existing windows and doors, and have a full understanding of the site requirements and building regulations that impact the trade.
View a full course prospectus.
Training will be available until 31 May 2021.
Sign up for training on the Building Our Skills Academy website
Elmhurst Energy
The training covers retrofit assessor training and accreditation.
Elmhurst is providing retrofit assessor training and accreditation for professionals accredited as Domestic Energy Assessors. The training is delivered online.
Learn more about the training.
There are 3 training courses available. You can sign up to each of them on Elmhurst Energy’s website:
Eco Academy (from Expedient Training)
The training covers:
- retrofit assessor training
- insulation
- non-insulation fabric measures
The training will help attendees gain the compliance that is required to meet the standards for PAS 2030:2019. Gaining certification for PAS 2030:2019 is a prerequisite to install measures under the Green Homes Grant scheme.
The training will run until 31 May 2021.
Sign up for training on the Eco Academy website
Farnborough College of Technology
The training covers:
- insulation
- heat pumps and solar thermal
- heating and hot water controls
The training will help installers achieve various LCL awards, including:
- LCL L3 Award in Energy Efficiency for Gas Fired and oil-fired Domestic Heating and Hot Water Systems
- LCL L3 Award in the Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Wood Pellet Burning Appliances
- LCL L3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Heat Pump Systems (Non-refrigerant Circuits)
Sign up for training on the Farnborough College of Technology website
The Green Register
The training covers:
- retrofit assessor and retrofit coordinator training
- insulation
- non-insulation fabric measures
- heat pumps and solar thermal
- heating and hot water controls
One hundred funded places are offered to businesses wishing to undertake retrofit training, certify in PAS:2030 and become TrustMark registered. A further 200 retrofit training places are available for contractors from the same company, alongside 50 discounted training places for contractors who are currently unemployed.
The training will run until 31 May 2021.
Sign up for training on the Green Register website.
Greendale Ltd trading as Ecta
The training covers heat pumps and solar thermal green technologies.
To apply, contact Kaya Walmsley for further information on routes and training packages available:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0161 480 5656
GTEC MCS
The training covers:
- solar thermal
- heat pumps (air source and ground source)
- biomass
The training is for existing plumbing and heating contractors. Up to 70% of funding to cover the training costs and certification will be made available.
The training is available from February to May 2021.
Sign up for training on the GTEC MCS website
Hampshire Training and Assessments
The training covers heating and hot water controls.
Training will be given for the following qualifications:
- Hot Water Systems and Safety
- Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency for Gas Fired and Oil-Fired Domestic Heating and Hot Water Systems
- Essential Electrics and Safe Isolation of Electrical Equipment
Sign up for training on the Hampshire Training & Assessments website
Heat Geek
The training covers:
- heat pumps and solar thermal
- heating and hot water controls
Subsided training is available for up to 300 applicants. The training is broken up into 2 courses – ‘Awakening’ which teaches the fundamentals of heating design and ‘Mastery’ which goes deeper into hydronic understanding and theory.
Sign up for training on the Heat Geek website
North West Skills Academy
The training covers:
- insulation
- non-insulation fabric measures
This training will provide installers with City & Guilds Level 2 NVQ qualifications in Insulation and Building Treatments.
The training is available until 31 March 2021.
Sign up for training on the North West Skills Academy website
Optimum Energy Solutions
The training covers:
- heat loss calculations and surveys
- heat pump theory and installation
- solar Thermal fundamentals
- gaining MCS accreditation and TrustMark registration
The course is held online over 4 days (3 days online), with the fourth day comprising a final face-to-face presentation of heat pump equipment and systems to be held at various locations.
The training is available until 30 April 2021.
Sign up for training on the Optimum website
Provincial Seals
This training covers insulation, including measures such as cavity wall, loft and underfloor insulation.
The course will help installers achieve a Level 2 NVQ in Insulation and Building Treatments.
The training must be completed by 30 April 2021.
Sign up for training on the Provincial Seals website
The Retrofit Academy
The training covers:
- retrofit coordinators (applications now closed)
- retrofit assessors
The course will help installers achieve the NOCN Level 2 Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit. This qualification provides an entry-point that can be counted towards an NVQ.
The training must be completed by 30 April 2021.
Sign up for the course on the Retrofit Academy website.
Think Construction Skills
The training covers insulation.
The course will help installers achieve a Level 2 NVQ in Insulation and Building Treatments, specialising in measures such as external wall, cavity wall and cold roof insulation.
The training is available until 31 May 2021.
Sign up for training on the Think Construction Skills website
Trade Engine
The training covers:
- insulation
- non-insulation fabric measures
- heat pumps and solar thermal
- heating and hot water controls
The training will help installers achieve PAS 2030 or MCS certification. This includes providing quality management systems, training, and certification support.
The training is available until 14 May 2021.
Sign up for training on the Trade Engine website
Windhager
The training covers heat pumps and solar thermal.
This direct entry course is available for existing installers and HETAS registrants who wish to expand their skills and branch out into the installation of biomass and batch-fed appliances. It is also suitable for existing HETAS registrants who wish to attain the skills necessary to install biomass boiler appliances.
The last training course takes place from 19 to 23 April 2021.
Sign up for training on the Windhager website
Now is the time to get your qualification to become a Green Homes Grant installer
North West Skills Academy was one of 18 successful bids (6 Jan) from 29 applicants to receive a chunk of more than £6m made available through the Green Homes Grant Skills Competition.
The aim of the competition, which was run by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), is to make sure tradespeople are equipped and professionally trained in delivering home improvement measures that qualify for the Green Homes Grant.
It is hoped the skills competition will result in more than 5,000 training opportunities. There has never been a better time to become a qualified Green Homes Grant installer, says Samuel Riley, CEO of training provider:
“We are an organisation that is committed to supporting the number of skilled suppliers for the Green Homes Grant Scheme and we are very well positioned to respond to the skills competition to expand a skilled, qualified green workforce.
“The NVQ is fully delivered in the workplace and remotely. With full one-to-one support available and the current Green Homes Grant Skills Competition funding, there has never been a better time to become qualified.”
Under the Green Homes Grant scheme homeowners and landlords can fund up to two-thirds of the cost of green home improvements up to £5,000, or 100% of the cost for homeowners on low incomes, up to £10,000. Measures covered include insulation of walls, floors and roofs, double or triple glazing when replacing single glazing, and low-carbon heating like heat pumps.
The scheme has now been extended until March 2022, providing plenty of opportunity for traders to get the skills to carry out the work.
North West Skills Academy will be offering courses lasting between one and four months at their Manchester base, specialising in:
- external wall insulation (boarding and finishing)
- cavity wall insulation,
- loft and roof insulation
- draught-proofing
- internal wall Insulation
- insulated framed sections of buildings
- floor insulation, and
- wood preserving and damp-proofing
Samuel adds: “It’s a chance to get your blue skilled Construction Skills Certification Scheme card, comply with PAS 2030 requirements, which is needed to become a Trustmark accredited Green Homes Grant installer and you get the recognition you deserve.”
Simon Ayers, CEO of TrustMark said:
“We are delighted that such great organisations have been awarded funding to support the development of the supply chain required, as we transition to a sustainable delivery of whole house retrofit to properties in the UK.
“The demand for skilled and competent businesses to undertake the requirements of the new standards and deliver quality to the consumer has never been higher.”
The 18 training organisations providing training through the skills competition, can be found across England, from Penrith and Newcastle in the north, to Poole in the south, Epping in the east and Bristol in the west.
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