New funding will allow us to offer further fully funded retrofit training for residents in 2023.
We have received £94,575 from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training competition. We are match funding this amount, giving a total project value of £189,150.
This funding will help draw on the success of last year’s pilot, which saw Essex become the first UK county to deliver Fit for Retrofit Training.
Retrofitting is the process of adding new technology or features to make homes more energy efficient.
Training is available at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5. Funding will provide 50 spots on retrofit courses, which were oversubscribed during the pilot phase.
Training will be available to residents across Essex, with a focus on Colchester, Basildon and Canvey Island.
Courses will be delivered by Retrofit Academy CIC and Adult Community Learning Essex (ACL). They feature a mix of e-learning and face-to-face tutoring.
Cllr Lesley Wagland OBE, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Renewal, Infrastructure and Planning, said: “We are thrilled to support another year of retrofit training following last year’s incredibly successful pilot.
“Our Sector Development Strategy identifies retrofit as a key industry for economic and environmental growth across the county.
“Additional retrofit courses will enable individuals and businesses to take advantage of this growing industry, which could create 13,000 Essex-based jobs by 2050.”
Find out more or apply at the ACL website.