WORCESTERSHIRE businesses are to be offered discounted specialist training and free support through a new programme which will increase the skills and competitiveness of local firms and secure jobs.
The new training programme, operated in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust, will help heating and property installers to gain the PAS2030 certification to undertake work under the Green Deal, ECO and other government programmes. Worcestershire County Council has obtained funding through the Department of Energy & Climate Change, to provide grants of 75 per cent against the cost of certification for registered eligible businesses.
Local businesses will also be able to develop their skills and take advantage of networking opportunities across the region through a series of events. These will include monthly meet the buyer events, bidding workshops, and a series of training workshops.
Alan Wood, programme manager- green economy, from Worcestershire County Council explained: "Through this funding, Worcestershire County Council is looking to support the development of local contractors and to encourage them to bid for work both in Worcestershire and beyond. The workshops will give local SMEs the opportunity to increase their knowledge and enable better engagement with all members of the community, leading to an increased number of installations operating correctly to ensure maximum benefit to local residents.”
Ally Wadeward from the Energy Saving Trust said: "The Trust is delighted to be working with the County Council. We have run development programmes for local supply chain businesses in other parts of the UK and seen the benefits as businesses grow and secure more work. Our event programme will help installers to increase the range of work they can undertake and we will be looking to help installers to come together to bid for work collectively. Ultimately, this programme will help secure jobs and increase the number of energy efficient installations across the county.”
To register an interest in the accreditation and event programmes, email supportingworcestershire@est.org.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here