Green Deal Cash Boost

A total of £3.5million in funding has been announced today to help train hundreds of people in key green skills ahead of the launch of the Green Deal, delivering on the Deputy Prime Minister’s announcement in March last year to create 1,000 Green Deal apprenticeships.

The Green Deal is the Government’s flagship energy efficiency scheme aimed at renovating millions of draughty, energy-inefficient homes and office buildings across the UK. This scheme will begin later this year and will support an estimated 65,000 jobs by 2015.

Trained, skilled professionals in assessing home energy efficiency and installing insulation are crucial for getting the Green Deal off the ground which is why today’s money for training will go a long way to help the UK prepare for the launch.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been working closely with the Green Deal Skills Alliance to ensure support goes where it is most needed. DECC is putting forward £3m and one of the leading partners in the Alliance, CITB-ConstructionSkills, will provide a further £500,000 towards the training of insulation installers.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey said:

“This money will help hundreds of people gear up for the Green Deal and ensure this scheme is a real success on the ground. We have worked hand in hand with industry to get this right and are targeting funding at the areas where there is an urgent need as well as a clear demand. We hope this will encourage businesses across the country to fully prepare their staff for the launch of the Green Deal later this year.”

CITB-ConstructionSkills CEO Mark Farrar said:

“Today’s announcement represents a significant step towards preparing the construction industry for the Government’s flagship efficiency scheme.

“Training shortfalls have been identified as one of the main barriers to the success of the scheme. We have invested funds to tackle training shortages and unlock commercial opportunities for SMEs and we welcome DECC’s commitment to skills and training by doing the same thing. We are now calling on employers and the supply chain to also invest in sustainable skills training for their workforce, so they too can capitalise on the Green Deal.”

In addition, DECC is also funding a £10m competition to be launched in early May to support the incorporation of innovative technologies which can achieve significant energy savings in existing non-domestic buildings. Non-domestic buildings, such as schools, shops, offices, hotels, are associated with 18% of the UK’s total carbon emissions so reducing energy demand in this sector will help the country meet its climate targets.

Notes for editors

Further messages of support for today’s training funding include:

Sarah Bentley, Asset Skills Chief Executive Designate said:

“We are delighted to be working with CITB-ConstructionSkills and SummitSkills as part of the Green Deal Skills Alliance (GDSA) to ensure the necessary skills are in place to deliver the Green Deal when it goes live later this year. Asset Skills specific responsibility is for developing the qualifications for Green Deal Advisors, who play a crucial early role in the process, and for promoting the career and training opportunities this will provide. We believe that a qualified workforce will ensure that the best advice on energy efficiency is available to householders and to business and we are delighted this support funding from DECC is available to kick start the delivery of training across England”

Neil Marshall, Chief Executive of the National Insulation Association said:

“We have been working closely with Government on plans to significantly ramp up solid wall insulation volumes under the Green Deal and ECO and identified the need for support for skills and training at an early stage. We therefore welcome DECCs commitment and the new funding that is being made available to help gear up for the launch of the Green Deal.”

Andrew Warren, Director of the Association of the Conservation of Energy said:

“Delivering the ambitious goals that the Government is targeting from the Green Deal necessitates a step change in the numbers of people employed, as well as the skills required. Whilst the energy efficiency industry has a proud track record on training, it is excellent news that the enormous size of the task before us is being recognised by the Secretary of State in such an immensely practical way.”

Mike Threadgold, Chairman of the INCA Training Committee said:

“Solid wall insulation will be central to the success of Green Deal and ECO and this funding will help to increase capacity within the industry to meet the surge in demand. SWI requires highly specialist skills and, by investing in the training and qualification of the workforce, the industry will be able to continue to deliver the highest quality standards.”

Dr Scott Steedman, Director (Designate) of Standards at BSI said:

“BSI’s Green Deal Installation Standard, PAS 2030 not only provides installers with the ability to demonstrate their competence but is designed to provide assurance for the public that the quality of work will be at the appropriate level. We were delighted to have worked with DECC in delivering the first Green Deal standard which will help encourage adoption of the scheme and the best possible result for the UK with this energy efficiency initiative.”

1. The Coalition announced its intention to fund up to 1000 Green Deal installer apprenticeships in March 2011, subject to demand.
2. The new training will be administered by the Sector Skills Councils on behalf of the Green Deal Alliance. This group is made up of several existing skills groups - Construction Skills, Asset Skills, Summit Skills.
3. Further details of the installer training will be available shortly on the CITB-ConstructionSkills website (www.cskills.org/cutcarbon). Media enquiries should be sent to David Wrottesley, at david.wrottesley@cskills.org  or 0300 456 5453
4. The British Standards Institute (BSI) recently launched a new PAS 2030 standard for all installers. PAS2030 has been co-developed between DECC and industry representatives to ensure robust and deliverable standards as well as peace of mind and protection for consumers. Details of PAS2030 and how to get certified are available on the BSI website.
5. CITB-ConstructionSkills is the Industrial Training Board (ITB) for the construction industry in Great Britain (Scotland, England and Wales). They are working to ensure that construction employers have the right skills, in right place, at the right time by investing funds and providing a wide range of industry-led skills and training solutions. As an ITB and SSC, they are providing vital support to a sector which is central to the UK economy. For more details on their work please visit the construction skills website.
6. Cut the Carbon campaign: in partnership with the Federation of Master Builders and National Specialist Contractors Council, ConstructionSkills launched an industry-wide ‘Cut the Carbon’ campaign across England, Scotland and Wales in October 2010; to raise construction companies’ awareness of the legislation, the timelines and practical support and training available in responding to the Green Deal. Visit the Cut Carbon Campaign website for more information.
7. DECC will provide £10m innovation funding for the application of pre-commercial technologies which can achieve significant energy savings in existing non domestic buildings. This programme will be delivered in partnership with the Technology Strategy Board. Details of how to apply will appear on DECC and TSB’s respective websites by early May. Innovative solutions will be encouraged from consortia of key supply chain players, including building owners and technology suppliers, to demonstrate the energy performance of innovative products or processes which could ultimately be accredited under the Green Deal. 

Source: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_020/pn12_020.aspx

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