LSBU Green Skills Hub hosts South London residents for Domestic Energy Assessor training

In November the LSBU Green Skills Hub hosted a new cohort of South London residents from the Tri-borough councils of Lewisham, Southwark and Lambeth, to successfully complete the Level 3 Domestic Energy Assessor qualification, delivered by Bail Trust.

This initiative forms part of the government's £8 million Warm Homes Skills Programme which runs until July 2026 and aims to upskill up to 9,000 installers and retrofit professionals across England. The programme provides fully funded training opportunities to increase the capacity and competence of the retrofit supply chain, supporting national targets for building decarbonisation and the government's Warm Home Plan.

Through this collaboration, the Bail Trust delivered the accredited training, with LSBU Green Skills Hub providing the venue and facilities, working closely with the Tri-borough councils to promote and recruit a cohort of South London residents to the free three-week course, opening new doors into the growing retrofit and green construction sector!

“We were keen to ensure our residents had access to the accredited retrofit courses funded through the WHSF and were delighted to invite the Bail Trust to South London to deliver here. With the flexibility of the Bail Trust, the centrally located delivery from the LSBU Green Skills Hub at the Passmore Centre, the property visits for practical training facilitated by Lambeth Council, and a strong outreach to find interested and committed residents, it was truly a successful collaboration. This pilot demonstrated that strong demand exists for such courses, and we will continue to work to deliver green skills opportunities for our residents.” - Hazel Mealy, Principal Strategy Officer - Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark Councils

Over the three-week programme, learners developed the technical knowledge and assessment skills required to carry out domestic energy performance surveys, essential for advising homeowners and landlords on energy efficiency improvements. The cohort now hold a nationally recognised qualification that supports career progression into the retrofit and energy assessment sectors and gives them a foundation to go on to gain the level 4 Retrofit Assessor qualification.

South London Residents gave positive feedback about both the content and delivery of the course saying:

“It was well structured, supportive and genuinely focused on helping me build confidence and real practical skills”

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“Personally, as I am a mother of two haven't been able to work for 15 years, with no certificate of any profession from the UK system I couldn't find a job. So, this free EPC course gave me the opportunity and hope to be part of society in the UK”

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“The qualification will help me find work in this field and show employers that I have real skills. It has also improved my confidence and communication.”

The collaboration demonstrates how local authorities, training providers and higher education institutions can work together to deliver high-quality green skills training that benefits individuals, communities, and the environment.

“At LSBU, we’re committed to building a skilled workforce for a low-carbon future. Hosting this cohort as part of the Warm Homes Skills Programme is exactly the kind of partnership approach needed to drive the UK’s net zero ambitions.” - Katherine Doherty, LSBU Green Skills Hub Coordinator.

As the Warm Homes Skills Programme continues, LSBU Green Skills Hub in partnership with the Tri-borough councils are exploring the possibility of once again hosting the Bail Trust to deliver the level 4 Retrofit Assessment Training.

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To find out more about the Warm Homes Programme you can view this link Warm Homes Skills Programme (closed to applications) - GOV.UK

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