Retrofits: A Key Skill for Construction Tradespeople

Retrofits: A Key Skill for Construction Tradespeople

As the UK grapples with soaring energy prices and the urgent necessity to slash carbon emissions to achieve net zero by 2050,, the retrofitting of existing buildings has become essential. 

 What is a Retrofit?

Out with the old, in with the new! Retrofit refers to any improvement work on an existing building which enhances its energy efficiency. Efficiency can be achieved by using renewable energy and ensuring the building retains heat better. By retrofitting, you cut the occupant’s energy costs and reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.

Why Retrofit Skills Are In-Demand

The demand for retrofit skills among construction tradespeople is growing for several reasons:

- Government Initiatives: There are various government programs and incentives aimed at promoting energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, creating more opportunities for tradespeople skilled in retrofitting.

- Economic Benefits: Homeowners are looking to reduce their energy bills, and retrofitting provides a practical solution. Skilled tradespeople can capitalise on this demand.

- Environmental Awareness: As awareness of climate change grows, more people are motivated to make their homes eco-friendly, increasing the need for retrofit expertise.

Helping Homeowners:

Approximately 38% of UK properties were built before 1946,, characterised by poor insulation, draughts, dampness, and condensation. These issues lead to significant energy wastage as heating systems work harder to maintain warmth, driving up costs.

By retrofitting, you’ll help the homeowners address these problems, leading to:

• Reduced Energy Bills: Improved insulation and draught-proofing reduce the energy needed to heat homes, resulting in lower bills.

• Enhanced Comfort and Health: A well-insulated home stays warmer, which can improve overall health and well-being by preventing issues associated with cold living conditions.

• Environmental Benefits: Retrofitting reduces the carbon footprint by minimising energy waste and promoting the use of renewable energy.

Starting Your Retrofit Journey

Between 135,000 and 725,000 net new jobs, could be created by 2030 in low-carbon sectors, such as building retrofits. Learning retrofit skills will open doors in your career!

Why not pick up this skill through helpful courses? They’ll prepare your ability to assess a home’s construction, adaptations, and usage to recommend the most effective measures. Your expertise will ensure that retrofits are done correctly.

Some tradespeople may assume upskilling yourself to work retrofits may be daunting. But these are simple and approachable courses with varying degrees of challenge:

1. Level 3 Award in Introduction to Domestic Retrofit

2. Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Assessment

3. Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency for Older and Traditional Buildings

4. Level 3 Certificate in Domestic Energy Assessment, and Retrofit Assessor Training, (package for new entrants)

5. Retrofit Assessor Training (for existing DEAs)

There may even be opportunities for your studies to be funded!

Retrofit Academy  offer FREE retrofit training courses,! Special funding is also available to ex-service and military personnel through ELCAS,!

Conclusion

Everyone can relate to the cost-of-living crisis in the UK, but performing retrofits is a chance to help people combat this crisis.

Retrofitting is more than just a trend; it’s a necessity for achieving net-zero targets and tackling rising energy costs. For Construction Tradespeople, developing retrofit skills opens up a world of opportunities in an expanding market. By helping homeowners make their properties more energy-efficient, tradespeople are not only contributing to a greener future but also ensuring a healthier, more cost-effective living environment for everyone.

Building an Inclusive and Diverse Work Culture at Your College

Building an Inclusive and Diverse Work Culture at Your College

As we conclude Diversity and Inclusion Month, let’s reflect on the modern approach to inclusivity in the workplace. For colleges, it’s important to set a strong example for students by embracing diversity in a sensitive way. Whilst you may already work hard to ensure an inclusive environment and fair hiring process, there are some factors that you could consider.

The Foundations of Inclusive Hiring Practices:

Unconscious Bias Training

At the heart of an inclusive work culture lies the hiring process. It's here that the commitment to diversity must begin, not as a box-ticking exercise but as a genuine effort to enrich the academic community with a wide array of perspectives and experiences. This involves not only expanding where and how we search for candidates but also scrutinising our interview and selection processes for unconscious biases that might inadvertently favour certain groups over others. Often, these traits aren’t even known to the interviewer.

For information on what to be aware of and, more importantly, how to adapt to change, see the Unconscious Bias Training report.

CIPDs Inclusive Recruitment Guide

Depending on your college’s resources it’s encouraged to take large steps towards accessibility at each stage of a candidate’s application. According to the CIPD's inclusive recruitment guide, this involves more than just non-discriminatory job descriptions. It encompasses structured interviews, diverse hiring panels, and the implementation of equal hiring training programs to mitigate unconscious bias.

Many assume that asking standardised questions to all candidates makes the process equal. However, these questions should be carefully cultivated. Members of staff with the authority to interview candidates should be trained in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Whilst formal training isn’t compulsory, there are many training providers that can educate your teams on this subject.

Training provided by organisations such as Equality and Diversity UK can empower HR professionals and managers to effectively discuss diversity and inclusion with their teams, fostering a culture of openness and continuous improvement.

Cultural Research and Sensitivity

Once hired, the focus shifts to maintaining an inclusive environment that respects and celebrates differences.

More than just acknowledging cultural differences, cultural sensitivity requires active efforts to understand these differences and how they can enrich the college environment. Whilst you cannot be an expert in all cultures, it’s important to be prepared for differences that may come up from candidates and current staff.

Multilingual Resources

Implementing multilingual resources is a step towards this inclusivity. With tools like Microsoft Translator, educational institutions can offer subtitled presentations and translated materials for onboarding support staff, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder anyone’s ability to contribute or belong. These can also be used to aid educators in bypassing some language barriers with non-native English-speaking students.

The Impact of Diversity and Inclusion

Beyond ethical considerations, inclusive environments promote creativity, innovation, and a broader understanding of the world. A diverse and respectful staff of educators is an inspiration for students who will operate in a globalised economy, enhancing their empathy, cultural awareness, and ability to work across differences.

According to the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), being taught by a “same-race” educator can have benefits in your inter-personal relationship, feeling relatable to a role model in education.

Encouraging Regular Feedback and Communication

Through regular feedback sessions, you can continually refine and improve inclusivity efforts. By taking anonymous surveys and encouraging staff and student feedback, your college can continue to grow and develop policies best suited to your workplace. It’s through continued feedback that we keep growing.

Conclusion

Building an inclusive and diverse work culture in colleges and universities is a comprehensive process that extends beyond hiring practices. It requires a commitment to ongoing education, open dialogue, and the implementation of supportive resources. By prioritising inclusivity, institutions can create welcoming environments that not only attract a diverse pool of talent but also prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the wider world.

There’s a lot of ideas you can implement; where will you start?