Reed in Partnership has launched Reed Environment aimed at addressing the UK’s net zero skills shortage.
The recruitment company says Reed Environment will create a newly trained green workforce to help the UK meet its net zero targets and spread economic opportunity across the country.
Reed Environment has also shared new research which estimates that current rates of retrofit recruitment must triple if the country is to meet its 2050 net zero target. According to the research, if these rates don’t increase, then the UK won’t achieve its target number of energy-efficient installations to meet its net zero goal until 2105.
Reed Environment says its ambition is to create one of the largest networks of green skills training providers in the UK and will begin by delivering retrofitting training at scale and creating a recruitment pipeline for retrofit.
James Reed CBE, Chairman of Reed in Partnership, commented: “The UK is in a race to reach net zero by 2050. Meeting this target quickly is not only key to protecting the environment, but it is also a huge economic opportunity to create highly skilled jobs. A lack of skilled workers means we are currently falling behind.
A lack of skilled workers means we are currently falling behind.
“Nowhere is the UK’s green skills gap more apparent than in the retrofitting of our ageing housing stock. Currently, there is a serious shortage of retrofit training and recruitment pathways, meaning we are unable to embark on the retrofitting revolution that needs to happen.
“We need urgent action if we are to meet our net zero targets and that’s why we’re launching Reed Environment to help address this problem.”
Reed Environment has invested in the Oxford Energy Academy, the OFSTED training provider, to initially offer training for two retrofit assessment courses – the Domestic Energy Assessor and Retrofit Assessor.
Reed Environment says it will add over 1000 new retrofitters to the market each year when at full capacity, which it calls a 94% increase on current yearly recruitment levels.
Between now and 2025, Reed Environment says it will also open new Energy Academies across the UK to offer net zero skills training, including new retrofit courses, as well as solar, electric vehicles and heat pump training.