Green Deal Cash for Skills Training Needs a Consumer Market, says FMB

Thursday 8th March 2012 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New government funding to train hundreds of people in greens skills ahead of the Green Deal launch is very welcome but unless there is consumer demand for the Green Deal  there is the danger of training people with no future work, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response  to today’s announcement from the Deputy Prime Minister.   

Brian Berry, FMB Chief Executive said:
“The announcement of £3.5 million to help train people to assess home energy efficiency and install insulation is a welcome signal that the Government is committed to the success of the Green Deal. However, the appetite for training in the building industry is extremely subdued owing to the economic climate. In order to increase this appetite, particularly among SMEs, businesses must start to get a clear sense of the commercial opportunities arising from the Green Deal.”

Berry continued:
“For the Green Deal to take off potential Green Deal Providers need to be encouraged to start reaching out to their supply chains to help build confidence amongst SME businesses who want to engage in the Green Deal. For most SME building firms the domestic residential market is their core market which is why the Government’s new cash boost must not be swallowed up completely by the major players. “

Berry concluded:
“Energy efficiency training can plug an important gap in the knowledge that businesses need to have to enable them to take advantage of the opportunities presented by greener more energy efficient buildings. The Government is already trying to promote energy efficiency improvements through changes to the building regulations, but SMEs often struggle to keep up with the detail owing to the pace of regulatory change. It is therefore, crucial that government funding is used to ensure businesses of all sizes are prepared to take advantage of what will hopefully be an increase in demand for home energy efficiency improvements.”