Hertfordshire has approximately 500,000 homes in need of retrofitting to meet net-zero standards, the county needs around 60,000 retrofitters to ensure this target is met – a challenge that was unprecedented. To meet this issue head-on, Hertfordshire Futures lead the charge with a 'greener homes revolution' across the county.
Through grant funding, business support, upskilling, and creating training opportunities for local construction companies, residents, colleges and training providers – Hertfordshire Futures has helped to unlock the capacity and capability of retrofit (installation of energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation) skills and jobs in Hertfordshire. Thanks to these efforts, plans to accelerate the quality delivery and uptake of Retrofit skills in Hertfordshire is now making positive movements forward.
Where it all started
Hertfordshire Futures was one of the five pilot projects awarded by the Greater Southeast Net Zero Hub (GSENZH) to produce an evidence-based Regional Skills Plan to accelerate quality delivery and uptake of domestic Retrofit skills. Extensive research concluded that Hertfordshire’s Retrofit skills and capabilities were and remain at the infancy stage. The research highlighted that with approximately 500,000 homes needing energy efficiency measures installed to achieve the net zero 2050 target, the need for retrofit skills and services in the county is urgent.
After careful consideration and sector collaboration, the Hertfordshire Retrofit Skills Plan was set out with the vision…
“To accelerate the capability and capacity of Retrofit skills to unlock opportunities, create jobs, and have better, warmer, and greener homes for people, property and our planet.”
The challenges:
Before the scheme was rolled out, there was no doubt that there was an array of challenges to overcome:
- Raising awareness
- Sourcing locally
- Meeting demand
- Labour shortages
- Workload
Assessing the market
With the concern that the awareness of retrofit in Hertfordshire was extremely low and a barrier to delivery, Hertfordshire Futures collaborated with the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) Hertfordshire hub to survey construction operatives and professionals. With the term ‘retrofit’ not being well known across the market, the decision to market the scheme under the name “Greener Homes” was made.
The Retrofit Skills Plan Pilot
Over 41,000 employers and sole traders across the county were reached within the first 2 months of delivering the Retrofit Skills Plan, successfully enrolling 75 students into retrofit skills courses, and the money for grant funding was all but used up – a huge milestone for Hertfordshire’s retrofit sector.
Hertfordshire Colleges add Retrofit to Curriculum
Hertfordshire Futures has played a pivotal role supporting all four of Hertfordshire’s colleges, who will embark on offering additional Retrofit qualifications within their curriculum including the Level 3 Award in the installation of Solar Panels and Heat Pumps. All the colleges have been proactive in upskilling their staff, investing in Retrofit teaching resources and/or delivering the Level 2 Retrofit Awareness courses to their Level 2 and Level 3 construction students. A great progression towards adding retrofit into the curriculum.
Private Training provides support
As well as supporting all four of Hertfordshire’s colleges with retrofit training, Hertfordshire Futures has also supported the private training providers who already offer a wide range of retrofit training support. With the help of the skills bootcamp initiative, Hertfordshire Futures has begun working with the Retrofit Academy to offer businesses and individuals the opportunity to upskill in Retrofit.
Celebrating success
Through this successful pilot scheme, Hertfordshire Futures has increased awareness of retrofit within Hertfordshire’s trade sectors and helped the retrofit industry to take a huge leap towards meeting the county’s goal of having 60,000 retrofitters by 2050. Thanks to the funding, training and upskilling opportunities offered by Hertfordshire Futures – Hertfordshire’s retrofit sector is certainly looking greener!