by Dave Radley

Will London reach its net-zero deadline? The clock is ticking and 2030 is just around the corner.

More sustainable homes are built every day but how do we make existing buildings more energy efficient?

If we want to meet net zero targets, we need to retrofit homes to make them more energy efficient, with up to 236,500 buildings needing to be retrofitted in London by 2030.

London needs retrofit, as its homes and workplaces are responsible for 68 per cent of carbon emissions.

The net zero deadline isn’t the only factor; rising energy costs are a huge factor in the cost-of-living crisis, and low-earning families are suffering the most. Retrofit holds the potential to slash bills across the city.

Despite this, London is retrofitting at a rate ten times lower than the rate required, so we need to work out why can’t we reach this rate.

Skills gap 
In London – a city with 8.8 million people, only 4,000 are working in retrofit.

Approximately 410,000 of London’s workers are in construction – meaning around 10 per cent have retrofit skills.

It’s entirely possible for the city to meet net-zero targets. We have the workers, but they often don’t have the right skill set. The skills gap is one of the biggest factors in the slow retrofit roll-out.

To meet demand, London’s construction workforce must mobilise and become ‘retrofit-ready’.

The Mayor of London is currently committed to funding skills development with millions of pounds put into funding training each year.

Mobilising construction workers
The funding is there – so why aren’t people using it?

It’s not that people don’t want the skills. In fact, a lot of construction workers already have transferable skills that would allow them to work in retrofit.

However, the biggest barrier to training is the structure of the industry versus training requirements, where in most cases, workers cannot afford time off to take training. This can be remedied by on-the-job training which is now widely available and in many cases funded.

Helping people develop existing skills with short on-the-job training will be the key to beating the retrofit deadline.

Skills pathways 
Most construction workers already have the skills to work in retrofit.

As an example, plasterers could have the fundamental skills that are involved in external wall insulation.

Instead of taking time away to sit in a classroom, most of the skills needed can be developed on-site.

With the skills they already have, a plasterer usually would have the hand skills and use similar tools to that of an external wall insulation operative but may need to train in the use of new materials or apply them in a slightly different way due to setting times and/or nature of material. Training to ‘upskill’ in this area could be minimal and prior learning could be used to shorten courses.

This example alone could result in many construction workers progressing into the retrofit workforce.
If London’s construction companies can take advantage of on-site assessment and training, more could become Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) accredited – essential for gaining retrofit work.

The future 
Retrofit work throughout London needs to accelerate and is essential for the future of the industry.
The main barrier seems to be awareness in these key areas:

  • Construction workers (and companies) understanding routes from existing trades into retrofit/green skills roles (and transferable skills required to get there)
  • Understanding where to access funding and what can be funded
  • Knowing PAS (and Construction Skills Certification Scheme) requirements and how qualifications and training link to them.

Training providers and colleges need to focus on helping London’s construction industry find the right pathways and information if we want to boost the retrofit rate.
We can meet the retrofit goals – as long as we equip London with the best tools to do so.

Dave Radley is managing director of DMR Training
www.dmr-training.co.uk