This dynamic alliance is set to align with the region’s ambitious goal of elevating home energy efficiency to new heights. It follows WMCA’s successful bid for £34 million in Government funding, supplemented by £35 million from housing providers. This funding will facilitate retrofitting in around 3,000 homes, encompassing better insulation, doors, windows, and greener heating systems.
WMCA’s Skills for Life Bootcamp offers funded flexible courses, spanning up to 16 weeks, designed to provide prospective retrofitters with specialized training in sustainable building upgrades. This includes qualifications in domestic retrofit at levels 3, 4, and 5.
Bootcamp for fast-track upskilling
The courses address the retrofit skills gap intensified by increased demand for energy-efficient measures following the SHDF and HUG funding allocation. They cater to a diverse range of individuals, including social housing providers, contractors, self-employed professionals, the unemployed, and career changers.
The Skills for Life Bootcamps are intended to upskill individuals from various backgrounds, expanding the pool of qualified retrofitting professionals in the West Midlands.
For self-employed professionals and those currently unemployed, the partnership with WMCA offers fully funded training and opportunities for a career transition through The Skills for Life Bootcamps.
“It is great to be establishing a partnership with a forward-thinking region for training that directly supports with the decarbonisation of homes in the West Midlands,” commented David Pierpoint, chief executive at The Retrofit Academy. He highlighted the collaborative approach to training a skilled workforce of qualified retrofitters to fulfil the SHDF and HUG programs and contribute to net zero goals.
This partnership benefits the environment and creates new green job opportunities, ultimately improving homes for hundreds of residents in the West Midlands.
Goal to train 200,000 retrofitters by the end of the decade
The news of the skills partnership coincides with The Retrofit Academy’s enrollment of its 5,000th learner. Graduates gain access to the Careers Hub, designed to connect new talent with employers, furthering the initiative’s goal of training 200,000 retrofitters by the decade’s end.
David continued: “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.”