Guidance

Apply for free or subsidised training under the BEIS Skills Training Competition scheme

Tradespeople can get training in home energy retrofitting and low carbon heat insulation.

This guidance was withdrawn on

Applications for the scheme are now closed.

Applies to England

Tradespeople can apply for free or subsidised training in home energy retrofitting and low carbon heat installation.

The training is designed to get tradespeople professionally trained to deliver the government’s current and future energy efficiency schemes. These include:

The training is being given by various training providers across England.

Who the training is for

The training is for tradespeople or businesses who install energy efficient measures (such as solid wall insulation) or low-carbon heating measures (such as heat pumps).

How to apply

There are 18 training providers to choose from, offering a range of different training packages. Visit the training provider’s website for specific eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Training providers

BESA Academy

The training covers domestic heat pumps.

BESA will provide training to upskill 700 currently qualified plumbing and heating engineers to correctly install and maintain domestic heat pumps.

Training will be available until 31 October 2021.

Training can be undertaken online and at a number of training centres in England.

Building Our Skills Academy Limited

The training covers non-insulation fabric measures.

Attendees to the programme will undergo 3 days of training. At the end of the training, attendees will be competent to fit windows and doors, glaze and re-glaze existing windows and doors, and have a full understanding of the site requirements and building regulations that impact the trade.

View a full course prospectus.

Training will be available until 31 October 2021.

Dudley College

Dudley College is offering training in both heat pumps and solar thermal as well as heating and hot water controls.

Courses in heat pumps and solar thermal include:

  • National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) heat pumps and solar thermal (national occupational standards (NOS) aligned)
  • NICEIC solar thermal (NOS aligned)
  • City and Guilds F Gas

The Heating and Water Controls training package consists of:

  • Hot Water Systems and Safety Certificate of Competence
  • S & Y plan wiring
  • installing smart technology
  • wiring regulations 2382 City and Guilds

Training will be available until September 2021.

For enquiries please contact:

Nigel Sidwell (Construction Commercial Training Manager)
Email: nigel.sideell@dudleycol.ac.uk
Phone: 07917346759


Sally Conroy (GHG Co-ordinator)
Email: sallyconroy@dudleycol.ac.uk
Phone: 07776 591503

Elmhurst Energy

The training covers retrofit assessor training and accreditation.

Elmhurst is providing retrofit assessor training and accreditation for professionals accredited as Domestic Energy Assessors. The training is delivered online.

Learn more about the training.

The training is available until 30 September 2021.

There are 3 training courses available. You can sign up to each of them on Elmhurst Energy’s website:

Eco Academy (from Expedient Training)

The training covers:

  • retrofit assessor training
  • insulation
  • non-insulation fabric measures

The training will help attendees gain the compliance that is required to meet the standards for PAS 2030:2019. Gaining certification for PAS 2030:2019 is a prerequisite to install measures under the Green Homes Grant scheme.

The training will run until September 2021.

Farnborough College of Technology

The training covers:

  • insulation
  • heat pumps and solar thermal
  • heating and hot water controls

The training will help installers achieve various LCL awards, including:

  • LCL L3 Award in Energy Efficiency for Gas Fired and oil-fired Domestic Heating and Hot Water Systems
  • LCL L3 Award in the Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Wood Pellet Burning Appliances
  • LCL L3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Heat Pump Systems (Non-refrigerant Circuits)

The training will run until 31 October 2021.

The Green Register

The training covers:

  • retrofit assessor and retrofit coordinator training
  • insulation
  • non-insulation fabric measures
  • heat pumps and solar thermal
  • heating and hot water controls

One hundred funded places are offered to businesses wishing to undertake retrofit training, certify in PAS:2030 and become TrustMark registered. A further 200 retrofit training places are available for contractors from the same company, alongside 50 discounted training places for contractors who are currently unemployed.

The training will run until 31 July 2021.

Greendale Ltd trading as Ecta

The training covers heat pumps and solar thermal green technologies.

The training is available until 31 October 2021.

To apply, contact Kaya Walmsley for further information on routes and training packages available:

Email: kaya@ectatraining.co.uk
Phone: 0161 480 5656

GTEC MCS

The training covers:

  • solar thermal
  • heat pumps (air source and ground source)
  • biomass

The training is for existing plumbing and heating contractors. Up to 70% of funding to cover the training costs and certification will be made available.

The training is available until 31 October 2021.

Hampshire Training and Assessments

The training covers heating and hot water controls.

Training will be given for the following qualifications:

  • Hot Water Systems and Safety
  • Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency for Gas Fired and Oil-Fired Domestic Heating and Hot Water Systems
  • Essential Electrics and Safe Isolation of Electrical Equipment

Heat Geek

The training covers:

  • heat pumps and solar thermal
  • heating and hot water controls

Subsided training is available for up to 300 applicants. The training is broken up into 2 courses - ‘Awakening’ which teaches the fundamentals of heating design and ‘Mastery’ which goes deeper into hydronic understanding and theory.

The training is available until 31 October 2021.

North West Skills Academy

The training covers:

  • insulation
  • non-insulation fabric measures

This training will provide installers with City & Guilds Level 2 NVQ qualifications in Insulation and Building Treatments.

The training is available until 30 July 2021.

Optimum Energy Solutions

The training covers:

  • heat loss calculations and surveys
  • heat pump theory and installation
  • solar Thermal fundamentals
  • gaining MCS accreditation and TrustMark registration

The course is held online over 4 days (3 days online), with the fourth day comprising a final face-to-face presentation of heat pump equipment and systems to be held at various locations.

The training is available until 30 April 2021.

Provincial Seals

This training covers insulation, including measures such as cavity wall, loft and underfloor insulation.

The course will help installers achieve a Level 2 NVQ in Insulation and Building Treatments.

The training is available until 31 October 2021.

The Retrofit Academy

The training covers:

  • retrofit coordinators (applications now closed)
  • retrofit assessors

The course will help installers achieve the NOCN Level 2 Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit. This qualification provides an entry-point that can be counted towards an NVQ.

The training must be completed by 31 October 2021..

Sign up for the course on the Retrofit Academy website.

Think Construction Skills

The training covers insulation.

The course will help installers achieve a Level 2 NVQ in Insulation and Building Treatments, specialising in measures such as external wall, cavity wall and cold roof insulation.

The training is available until 31 October 2021.

Trade Engine

The training covers:

  • insulation
  • non-insulation fabric measures
  • heat pumps and solar thermal
  • heating and hot water controls

The training will help installers achieve PAS 2030 or MCS certification. This includes providing quality management systems, training, and certification support.

The training is available until 31 October 2021.

Windhager

The training covers the installation of biomass appliances.

This direct entry course is available for existing installers and HETAS registrants who wish to expand their skills and branch out into the installation of biomass and batch-fed appliances. It is also suitable for existing HETAS registrants who wish to attain the skills necessary to install biomass boiler appliances.

The training is available until 18 June 2021.

Published 16 February 2021
Last updated 9 July 2021 + show all updates
  1. The training is now applicable for all of the government's energy efficiency schemes, including the Local Authority Delivery scheme and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

  2. Added details about training offered by Dudley College.

  3. First published.