Green build NEWS

Climate change minister Greg Barker has put in place a partnership to ensure the UK has the right skills to improve the energy efficiency of buildings through the Green Deal.

The Green Deal Skills Alliance (GDSA), is working to create new training and accreditation for the energy assessment, advice and installation workforce. GDSA is made up of three sector skills councils: Asset Skills, Construction Skills and Summit Skills. 

Greg Barker said: “The success of the Green Deal will, in part, come down to having people who have the right skills and knowledge to instill trust. The Green Deal Skills Alliance will help industry face the challenges ahead so people get the right training and qualifications they will need in order to gain work under the Green Deal.”

The government’s flagship policy is set to transform over 14m homes and create up to 65,000 jobs by 2015 after its launch in October this year. It aims to enable private firms to offer consumers energy improvements to their homes,communities and businesses as part of a repayment scheme on their energy bill.

Sarah Bentley, chief executive designate of Asset Skills, said: “The new skills programmes we are introducing as part of the GDSA are important for the UK to meet its targets on cutting carbon. The partnership is running a series of Green Deal Connections events to raise awareness that only those with the right qualifications will be able to secure work from the Green Deal.”