The Reed Group has launches Reed Environment to support the ‘training at scale’ of a new green workforce.
According to the group, the initiative will establish one of the largest networks of green skills training providers, creating a recruitment pipeline for retrofitting millions of homes which are responsible for around 20 per cent of carbon emissions.
Reed Environment has published new research laying bare the urgent need to turbocharge retrofit training and recruitment. Its modelling estimates that current rates of retrofit recruitment must triple if the country is to meet its 2050 net-zero target. If these rates don’t increase, then the UK won’t achieve its target number of energy efficient installations to meet its net-zero goal until 2105 – a further 55 years beyond 2050.
Nowhere is the UK’s green skills gap more apparent than in the retrofitting of our ageing housing stock.
James Reed CBE, Chairman of Reed in Partnership, says: “The UK is in a race to reach net-zero by 2050. Meeting this target quickly is not only key to protecting the environment, but it is also a huge economic opportunity to create highly skilled jobs. A lack of skilled workers means we are currently falling behind.
“Nowhere is the UK’s green skills gap more apparent than in the retrofitting of our ageing housing stock. Currently, there is a serious shortage of retrofit training and recruitment pathways, meaning we are unable to embark on the retrofitting revolution that needs to happen. We need urgent action if we are to meet our net-zero targets and that’s why we’re launching Reed Environment to help address this problem.”
Reed Environment has invested in the Oxford Energy Academy, the highly-rated OFSTED training provider, to initially offer training for two retrofit assessment courses – the Domestic Energy Assessor and Retrofit Assessor – both of which form the foundation for undertaking a retrofit project.
The group forecasts the initiative will add over 1,000 new retrofitters to the market each year when at full capacity – a 94 per cent increase on current yearly recruitment levels identified in its research – and connect the newly trained workers to job opportunities with Local Authorities, Housing Associations, and private landlords.
Reed Environment will combine its experience in delivering training programmes quickly at scale, with the Oxford Energy Academy’s technical expertise and track record of offering courses covering a broad spectrum of the energy industry.
Between now and 2025, the initiative will expand its reach by opening new Energy Academies across the UK to broaden the net-zero skills training it offers, including new retrofit courses, as well as solar, Electric Vehicles and heat pump training.
These Academies are expected to provide first of its kind training at scale, job opportunities, energy advice and consultancy solutions to propel the UK along its trajectory to net-zero. These will be created in areas that are most in need of net-zero skills training to ensure access is spread equally.
