Source · Select Committees · Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Accepted in Part
Publish Net Zero and Nature Workforce Action Plan by 2025 for home retrofit skills.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government resumes work undertaken by the previous Government to prepare a Net Zero and Nature Workforce Action Plan. This should be published by the end of 2025 and include a specific roadmap for meeting the skills needs of the home retrofit sector, including via the Growth and Skills Levy mechanisms. It should also ensure that training courses and qualifications for heating engineers cover work on low carbon heating technologies as part of the core curriculum, rather than an add-on. This should be a cross-government endeavour with the Skills Minister accountable to ensure full engagement between the Office for Clean Energy Jobs, Skills England, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Education. Once it is fully established, Skills England should also prioritise the skills needs of the low carbon retrofit sector. (Recommendation, Paragraph 138)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for a skilled supply chain and highlights significant investment through the Warm Homes Plan, plans to train 18,000 workers, new apprenticeships, and collaboration with Skills England and the Office for Clean Energy Jobs to address workforce challenges in net zero sectors, including retrofit. However, it does not explicitly commit to resuming or publishing a Net Zero and Nature Workforce Action Plan by the specified deadline.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The government recognises that a skilled, competent and robust supply chain is needed to deliver the necessary upgrades to buildings. Growing this workforce requires certainty, via government funding or regulation, so that companies can make the investments needed and individuals can obtain retrofit skills. The £13.2 billion committed to the Warm Homes Plan for schemes that support households to upgrade with heat pumps, energy efficiency measures and low carbon technology provides a clear forward trajectory to underpin this workforce growth. In April, the Department announced plans to train up to 18,000 skilled workers to install heat pumps, fit solar panels, install insulation and work on heat networks through the extension of the Heat Training Grant and launch of the Warm Homes Skills Programme. We have also been working with the industry to develop apprenticeships to support retrofit careers including a Level 2 Insulation Installation Operative, a Level 3 Insulation Technician and a Level 5 Retrofit Coordinator. This is in addition to the existing Low Carbon Heating Technician apprenticeship. The Department is also working with industry, the Department of Education and Skills England to deliver flexibility for employers and learners, making the skills offer more attractive to a wider group of learners to enable growth of the necessary skilled workforce. Skills England is also working to tackle the UK’s growing skills gaps, aligning training with industry needs, and expanding opportunities for people and businesses across England. Together with the Office for Clean Energy Jobs, Skills England will support this effort by tackling workforce and skills challenges specific to net zero sectors, including retrofit, ensuring that clean energy jobs are good jobs. We will outline further initiatives to support the sustainable growth of retrofit supply chains across the country in the Warm Homes Plan.