Sustainable Biz - Magazine - Page 27
Yet only 1.7% of employers are currently
certified to deliver retrofit work.
The most in-demand retrofit roles
include:
•
Installers of insulation, windows, and
low-carbon heating systems
•
Retrofit assessors and coordinators
•
Project managers, customer service, and
finance professionals
You don’t have to start from scratch.
Many skills are transferable, and existing
tradespeople may only need light-touch
upskilling to meet new standards.
Getting Started
If you're a resident considering a
career change: You may already have
transferable skills – HOP can help you
understand your next steps.
If you’re a tradesperson or SME in
construction: Retrofitting isn’t a passing
trend. With government policies like the
phase-out of gas boilers by 2030, demand for
green technologies is only going to grow.
•
If you're a business owner keen to
improve your premises: Read the Retrofit
Guide or visit Hertfordshire Growth Hub for
business support or HOP’s Greener Homes
Hub for upskilling and training opportunities.
Local approaches drive growth locally
Local councils and partners are already
delivering. A local collaboration between
housing associations and local authorities
delivered over £40million in local investment,
with £14 million from government funding,
matched by £25 million in local investment,
to improve homes across the county. This
included commitments to local skills
development and social value – a model for
how business, public sector and community
partnerships can succeed. Retrofitting offers
businesses the chance to cut costs, improve
comfort, and show leadership in sustainability
– while also strengthening Hertfordshire’s
green economy.
With strong local partnerships, clear guidance,
and growing support, now’s the time to explore
how retrofitting could benefit your business –
and how you can play a role in Hertfordshire’s
low carbon future.
Use the Retrofit Guide although
aimed at homeowners, it’s full of ideas
that apply to business premises
Retrofitting is particularly worth exploring if
you’re already planning renovations or facing
high energy costs.
The Trades and Construction
Opportunity
None of this happens without people – and
Hertfordshire is scaling up to meet the
demand. The Hertfordshire Opportunities
Portal (HOP) has launched a Retrofit:
Green Homes Hub to support residents
and businesses in finding opportunities and
building skills.
The scale of opportunity is significant:
•
482,900 homes need retrofitting by
2050 – that’s 52 per day
•
59,800 retrofitters are needed –
around 2,300 trained professionals per
year
•
£100m+ already secured to improve
building stock
•
The supply chain market could grow from
£1.2bn to £36bn by 2030
bIZ4BIZ.ORG
27
