As the Government is pushing for 1.5 million new homes to be built by 2029, we face a huge shortage of skilled construction workers nationally.

There are already some 30 million homes in the UK, which are among the coldest and draughtiest in Europe. Many need significant work to make them more energy efficient and more comfortable to live in – and to reduce their carbon emissions as we try to deal with climate change. The average UK home emits 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year at present.

At Marches Energy Agency we regularly hear from householders wanting to ‘retrofit’ their homes but coming across a huge challenge – they can’t find skilled experienced tradesmen and professionals to do the work. 

So we’re working on filling this ‘skills gap’.   

Students from the Colleges in Telford and Shrewsbury are working with staff, expert contractors, and our own retrofit experts to transform a couple of tired, vacant properties into the dream low-carbon low-bills homes of the future. They are learning in a real life setting the retrofit skills so much in demand – insulating, repairing, making airtight, and installing green technology such as heat pumps and solar panels. 

Huge thanks to the Wrekin Housing Group in Telford and Connexus in Shrewsbury for making the two properties available for this valuable project. Together these housing associations own and look after 44,000 homes – so they’re very keen to ensure a supply of skilled local tradespeople to help with their retrofit efforts. Thanks also to Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire Council for their enthusiastic support.  

Regular workshops and open days will be held so you can see up close what improvements are being made, and even get involved. We are running training sessions such as how to use a thermal imaging camera to find thermal weaknesses, how an EPC assessment is carried out, and how to make good decisions about your own retrofit. 

If you’re not able to get to site you can join our webinars online, or sign up for our newsletter which will regularly update you on the progress the students are making.

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