SKILLS UPGRADE FOR ELECTRICIANS TO BOOST WEST MIDLANDS RETROFIT GOALS

Caption: Man, an electrical technician working in a switchboard with fuses. Installation and connection of electrical equipment. Professional with tools in hand. concept of complex work, space for text.

Electricians are set to benefit from access to upgraded qualifications thanks to a collaboration between North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). Employed individuals living in a WMCA postcode area can update their skills in the latest electrical installations retrofit techniques for free and help towards the combined authority’s ambitious plans to help tackle climate change.

Retrofitting forms part of the WMCA’s #WM2041 programme, which sets out how the West Midlands aims to become carbon neutral no later than 2041. Earlier this month, it launched a plan to retrofit around 50,000 homes in the region by the end 2022 to make them more energy efficient and help to combat fuel poverty.

Research points to rising demand for low carbon job roles as the ‘greening’ of sectors gathers pace, extending to heavy industry and those that are energy intensive. The WMCA forecasts that 21,000 new low carbon jobs could be created over the next five years rising to 71,000 by 2041. There is likely to be increased demand for retrofitting as the construction sector improves the energy efficiency of existing housing stock and starts to build greener homes with better insulation that make use new technologies such as air source heat pumps and solar hot water supplies.

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC said, “We’re delighted to support the ambitious goals of the WMCA which seeks to reenergise the West Midlands with a green industrial revolution. This cannot be achieved without skilled individuals particularly in the construction sector where we are already seeing increasing levels of demand.”

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said, “The WMCA remains utterly committed to tackling the region’s climate emergency, and addressing fuel poverty is a key part of our plans. We have too many old homes in the region that are poorly insulated, leading to high energy bills. By addressing this not only we will be helping households out of fuel poverty at such a difficult economic time for many, but we will also be taking a strong step towards our goal of carbon neutrality by 2041.”

NWSLC is offering part time study in Electrical Installation (18^th Edition) skills on Tuesday evenings for ten weeks from 14 September 2021 at its Nuneaton Campus, or as part of a one-week intensive fast track option starting on 6 September 2021. PAT testing is taught over two and a half days and start dates are either 14 September or 2 November 2021. These qualifications are being offered at no charge for residents of Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, and Dudley. Course fees for residents of other areas can be found on the college’s website.

To check eligibility and find out more visit our nwslc.ac.uk, call 0330 058 3000 or email enquiries@nwslc.ac.uk