South Gloucestershire and Stroud College based in Filton has recently launched its Green Skills Bootcamps after working with Business West on the Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs).
LSIPs aim to bring employers, colleges, independent training providers, and other local stakeholders together to set out the key changes needed to make technical skills training more responsive to employers’ skills need.
The Green Skills Bootcamps include modules such as ‘An Introduction to Ground Source Heat Pumps’ and ‘An Introduction to retrofit Insulation’.
The construction sector is anticipated to increase its demand for green skills as more than a third of green jobs to be created in Gloucestershire by 2030 will be in low carbon heat and energy efficiency – two areas in which construction plays a significant role.
The UK Trade Skills Index, conducted by Capital Economics on behalf of Checkatrade, has said that the nation is facing an “urgent and alarming” shortage of skilled labourers. Its recent report estimates that the skills gap in the construction and repairs industry will reach 937,000 by 2032.
The report also states that if the UK is serious about its ambition to achieve net zero by 2050, it would need more skilled construction workers. Having enough plumbers who can install heat pumps is an especially important factor.
Kate Hartshorn, Projects and Business Development Manager at SGS, said:
“Taking part in the LSIP trailblazer led by Business West revealed that to effectively decarbonise the construction industry, we need to see an increase in green technology skills in order to future proof the workforce.
“Staff who attend the workshops can now go and fit air source heat pumps themselves and have apprentices working with them. This means the company can grow and more people can be brought on to learn new skills.”
Jon Burchfield, Operations Director at Cotswold Energy, said:
“Cotswold Energy Group jumped at the chance to enrol our engineers on the bootcamp training.
“There is a real lack of targeted training in renewal heating and whilst our engineers are very skilled, almost all of them have had to learn ‘on the job’. It is also a great chance for us to invest in our people, improving engagement with our team and giving them the opportunity to gain a meaningful qualification in their industry.”
Matt Tudge, Head of Skills Delivery at Business West, said:
“The Green Skills Bootcamps are important because they provide professional reskilling attached to regional and national needs aligned with the UKs net zero strategy.
“In 2025, compliance with the Future Homes Standard (FHS) will become mandatory. This aims to ensure that new homes built from 2025 will produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes built under the current Building Regulations.
“But there is also a significant need to retrofit existing properties to meet Net Zero targets, so workshops such as these will be invaluable for employees to support them to upskill and retrain.”
Businesses hoping to get involved in the LSIP can sign up for a 40-minute one to one discussion with one of Business West’s Business Engagement Executives here.
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