Research by Reed in Partnership shows that retrofit recruitment must triple if the UK is set to reach net zero by 2050.
To tackle the skills gap, the company has today launched Reed Environment, which will create a newly trained green workforce to help the country meet its targets and spread economic opportunity across the country.
Reed Environment’s ambition is to create one of the largest networks of green skills training providers in the UK. It will begin by delivering retrofitting training at scale and creating a recruitment pipeline for retrofit. It estimates that this new workforce could reduce the carbon footprint of millions of UK homes, which are responsible for around 20% of the country’s carbon emissions.
Reed’s research shows that not only will the UK not achieve net zero by 2050, but if action is not taken, it will take an additional 55 years in which to do so.
James Reed CBE, chairman of Reed in Partnership, said: “The UK is in a race to reach net zero by 2050. Meeting this target quickly is not only key to protecting the environment, but it is also a huge economic opportunity to create highly skilled jobs. A lack of skilled workers means we are currently falling behind.”
“Nowhere is the UK’s green skills gap more apparent than in the retrofitting of our ageing housing stock. Currently, there is a serious shortage of retrofit training and recruitment pathways, meaning we are unable to embark on the retrofitting revolution that needs to happen. We need urgent action if we are to meet our net zero targets and that’s why we’re launching Reed Environment to help address this problem.”
Reed Environment has invested in the Oxford Energy Academy, the highly-rated OFSTED training provider, to initially offer training for two retrofit assessment courses – the Domestic Energy Assessor and Retrofit Assessor – both of which form the foundation for undertaking a retrofit project.
Reed Environment will add over 1000 new retrofitters to the market each year when at full capacity – a 94% increase on current yearly recruitment levels. It will connect newly trained workers to job opportunities with local authorities, housing associations, and private landlords.
Between now and 2025, Reed Environment will expand its reach by opening new Energy Academies across the UK to broaden the net zero skills training it offers, including new retrofit courses, as well as solar, electric vehicles and heat pump training.
