Hertfordshire, like the rest of the UK, faces two big problems, rising energy prices and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions if it is to reach net-zero by 2050.

Homeowners are increasingly worried about higher bills. The scale of this problem locally is huge. In a recent report, Hertfordshire Retrofit Skills Plan identified that 500,000 homes require more work to make them more energy efficient by 2050. This work is called retrofit – bringing our draughty, old houses up to new energy efficient standards by installing better insulation, glazing, smart heating controls and modern, low-carbon heating technologies.

Throughout 2024, Hertfordshire Futures Clean Growth Programme prioritised business growth opportunities and the development of green skills. One of the primary challenges in this sector is the shortage of qualified tradespeople. To address this, Hertfordshire Futures has been actively working to reduce the retrofit skills gap by removing barriers and stimulating the growth of the local supply chain.

At the beginning of the year, following extensive market research into Hertfordshire’s retrofit sector and skills provision, Hertfordshire Futures produced and published a comprehensive 9-point Retrofit Skills Plan. This plan laid the groundwork for the initiatives implemented throughout the spring and summer.

Key actions delivered under this plan included the creation of a dedicated retrofit (Greener Homes) web presence on the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP). This platform provides extensive information on retrofit skills and guides individuals on how to upskill and enter the sector. To increase awareness further, digital social media marketing campaign targeted tradespeople in Hertfordshire, reaching an impressive 10,000 social media accounts in March alone and over 41,000 employers and sole traders overall.

In March and June, Hertfordshire Futures organised two retrofit business-focused events, attracting around 150 delegates. These events highlighted retrofit and upskilling opportunities, featured exhibitors, and launched a new video showcasing retrofit opportunities. Additionally, a retrofit training session was held for 42 students on a Level 2 construction course at Oaklands College, introducing them to retrofit for the first time.

Collaboration with the Careers and Enterprise team and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) led to the delivery of a webinar on Careers in Sustainable Construction (Retrofit) to Hertfordshire GCSE students. To support retrofit training and teaching needs, Training Provider Grants were provided to all four of Hertfordshire’s Further Education (FE) Colleges. These grants have helped colleges upskill their staff, develop closer relationships with retrofit product companies, and purchase necessary products and materials.

An Employer Training Grant was also developed and dispersed to fund and encourage the uptake of retrofit training. The initial target was to engage 35 employers in learning, but the program exceeded expectations, enrolling 75 retrofit learners on courses within two months. Alongside this grant, other upskilling activities such as Retrofit Skill Bootcamps and a Retrofit Awareness course were conducted, with over 140 learners participating in retrofit training over a few months.

In July 2024 the ‘Retrofit: Greener Homes’ programme was completed, which included targeted interventions to develop the county’s retrofit capability to unlock opportunities in this sector for tradespeople, SMEs and residents. The programme was funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered through the skills team on behalf of the Greater Southeast Net Zero Hub.

By delivering the Retrofit Skills Plan and focusing on unlocking retrofit capacity and capabilities, Hertfordshire Futures has ensured that residents have access to training and employment opportunities related to domestic energy efficiency improvements.

Hertfordshire Futures’ initiatives in 2024 have not only addressed the retrofit skills gap but also fostered a culture of sustainability and green growth, positioning Hertfordshire as a leader in clean growth and green skills development.