Opportunity for free training for businesses in renewable energy

Shropshire Council is leading on a project to provide free specialised training in renewable energy and environmental technologies. 

The project is being managed by Shropshire Council in conjunction with Telford & Wrekin, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Coventry and Worcestershire councils as part of the wider ‘Skills for Climate Change’ programme supported by the European Social Fund.

The training is open to all small to medium-sized businesses, sole traders and start up businesses within the participating councils’ areas.  There are a limited number of free places available in renewable energy technologies such as solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, heat pumps and biomass to plumbers, heating engineers and building services companies.

A business can apply for a member of staff to attend a non-accredited or related training course such as the Quality Management Systems training, and for a member of staff to attend one renewable technology training session per company. 

This training is part of the wider ‘Skills for Climate Change’ programme supported by the European Social Fund, and has been tailored to support the take up and attainment of the Micro-generation Certification Scheme (MCS), enabling local businesses to benefit from the growing renewable energy market. 

MCS is an independent scheme backed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change for the certification of micro-generation products and installers.  The scheme gives reassurance to consumers that certified installers have met robust quality, performance and safety criteria and is one of the many ways in which the Government is looking to cut the UK’s dependency on fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions. 

Councillor Mike Owen, Cabinet member for business support, said:

“Shropshire Council is pleased to be leading on this training project which allows us to offer small and medium-sized companies the opportunity to access free training.  It presents a major opportunity for businesses to extend their skills base, and offers them the potential of new business within the environmental technology sector.” 

As the training will be delivered on a first-come first-served basis, anyone interested should contact the selected training provider directly at the Energy Training Hub on 0800 028 7420 or alternatively at info@energytrainghub.co.uk to discuss your training needs and to complete an application form. 

The selected training provider is Dudley College Enterprise, a member of the National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies (NSAET).  More details can be found at www.energytraininghub.co.uk