Last year, a leading Stevenage-based further-education provider became the first college in Hertfordshire to offer a complimentary Retrofit Awareness course to full-time Construction students.

The Retrofit Awareness qualification is designed to help students understand modern methods of construction, used to extend the lifespan of older systems and structures to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency.

North Hertfordshire College has embedded the Retrofit Awareness qualification into the curriculum of all full-time Level 2 Electrical, Plumbing, Bricklaying, and Carpentry courses – equipping these learners with a deep understanding of sustainable construction practices, before they enter the modern construction workforce.

North Hertfordshire College have implemented the complimentary Retrofit qualification to help deliver the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Retrofit Skills Plan.

The Retrofit (Greener Homes) Skills Plan found that the majority of dwellings in Hertfordshire require Retrofitting – “only three in five homes possess an average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘C’, with more failing certificates than passing in most districts”.

The Hertfordshire LEP reached out to local education providers to help raise awareness of Retrofit’s importance among the future construction workforce – encouraging students to upskill in this area to meet their Retrofit targets.

We spoke with Paige, who completed her Level 2 Bricklaying course alongside the Retrofit qualification at North Hertfordshire College last year, she commented:

“The Retrofit awareness course has helped me understand how to improve energy efficiency. I’ve learnt about the impact Retrofitting can have on reducing energy consumption in buildings, and the practical ways I could use these techniques in my future career.”

Julie King, head of construction and motor vehicle at North Hertfordshire College’s Engineering and Construction Campus added:

“The Retrofit Awareness course is designed to help our learners develop an understanding of ways to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, with a particular focus on addressing the needs of our local area.

“By offering this complimentary qualification, we hope to generate more of a dialog around Retrofitting skills, helping to increase awareness of the positive impact it has and encourage construction workers to upskill in this area.”

North Hertfordshire College delivers teaching with a focus on the current and projected needs of relevant industries. As the construction industry focuses on eco-conscious design and sustainability, the College launched the Retrofit Awareness course to support the local industry’s sustainable future.