ACL Essex, part of Essex County Council, has partnered with Braintree District Council to offer a range of green skills courses.
In collaboration with Braintree District Council, the adult education provider’s new programme will support employers to upskill staff on the practice of retrofitting. The courses are available to anyone who lives or works in the Braintree District.
Retrofitting means upgrading existing homes to make them more energy efficient, with the aim of eradicating fuel poverty. It involves bringing older and less energy efficient properties up to current standards. Retrofitting helps to improve people’s lives, homes and the local community.
ACL Essex’s new Retrofit courses will be able to support employers to train their staff in retrofitting skills. This could include fitting new windows or installing insulation in older properties. Courses are free to attend and range from entry level 2 to a Diploma at level 5. Staff can also do more than one course at a time.
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, is enthusiastic about the new partnership.
He said: “We’re delighted to work with Braintree District Council to offer a Retrofit training programme. The funding helps us to support employers to upskill their staff and train them in modern sustainability practices. We’re grateful to Braintree District Council for this collaboration and are keen to support as many construction businesses in Braintree and the surrounding areas.”
Councillor Diana Garrod, Lead Member for Climate Change at Braintree District Council, is equally positive about the programme.
She said: “It’s great that we are able to work with Essex County Council’s adult education provider to put on these courses for the people of Braintree. Ultimately, retrofitting helps to improve people’s lives and their homes, as well as reducing our reliance on unsustainable energy. I would encourage our residents and businesses to take a look at this exciting opportunity.”
Learner Matt recently graduated from a Retrofit course at ACL Essex.
Matt said: “Becoming a qualified Retrofit Coordinator opens many doors and provides me with the credibility to help my start-up succeed. Just as important is the personal development and depth of the course. The topics covered taught me a lot about the industry.”
ACL Essex’s new Retrofit programme is now up and running. To discover more about ACL Essex’s new Retrofit training programme, visit www.aclessex.com/retrofit. Those interested in the course can call the team at ACL Essex on 0345 603 7635 to discuss their retrofitting course needs.
