Our training brings together our expertise in energy advice, our hands-on, practical knowledge and our innovative research projects to create sessions that are comprehensive, fresh and grounded.

Our courses are open to all, and are suitable for both energy advisors who want to expand their knowledge, and people with no prior knowledge of energy at all.

We are a CPD accredited organisation, and a selection of our courses are CPD certified.

Current courses

Our currently available courses include:

• Retrofit and Smart Energy Essentials series (CPD certified)
• Domestic Energy Essentials (CPD certified)
• Community Action on Energy courses and bespoke training

Retrofit and Smart Energy Essentials

This course is CPD certified

The UK’s transition to a smart energy system is already underway, yet many people feel left behind by the pace of change and technical complexity. Being able to navigate a smarter energy system should be an option for everyone across society, not just professionals working directly in the energy sector. This 3-part training session offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of domestic retrofit, smart energy technology and low carbon household energy use.

This training is for all frontline staff and anyone wanting to update their knowledge of energy and retrofit – whether you specialise in energy, benefits, housing, community support or retrofit. By the end of it, participants will feel confident discussing retrofit and smart energy options in their everyday work. The practical knowledge gained will help both participants and the people they support to make informed choices and be able to participate in the shift to the UK’s future smart energy system.

This training can be taken in individual parts or as a full day workshop, register your interest here.

Part 1

Retrofit Essentials – Level 1 (Suitable for anyone)

• Demystifying retrofit. 
• The relevance of carbon in retrofit adaptations. 
• Introduction to rules and regulations.  
• Understanding the building; the people, and the local context.  
• Traditional, modern and non-standard construction . 
• Introduction to insulation materials and elements that can be insulated .  
• Ventilation and indoor air quality.   

Sustainable Home Adaptations  – Level 2 (For energy advisors or those with retrofit training)

• The importance of sustainable retrofit adaptations. 
• Whole life carbon and sustainability. 
• Rules, regulations, and getting it right. 
• Understanding the whole house, whole year approach, in a changing climate. 
• Evolving housing types and evolving approaches to retrofit. 
• Lessons from the past and deceiving brick patterns. 
• Ventilation and indoor air quality.  

Part 2

Smart energy in the home – Level 1+2 (Suitable for beginners and those with experience in the sector)

• A flexible, decarbonized energy grid.
• Engaging clients in the energy transition.
• Flexing usage: why and how.
• Time-of-use and smart tariffs, demand-shifting schemes.
• Smart technologies and products for the home.
• Electric cars.

Part 3

Low carbon heating and home energy generation – Level 1+2 (Suitable for beginners and those with experience in the sector)

• Energy use and the UK decarbonisation plan.
• Changing technology to support the grid.
• Renewable technologies for home energy generation including solar PV and thermal, solar diverters, battery storage and wind.
• Low carbon heating options with a focus on heat pumps.
• Other low carbon heating options including night storage heaters, heat batteries and district heating.
• Less sustainable alternatives that you may come across including biomass, infrared and hydrogen.

Domestic Energy Essentials

This course is CPD certified

This training course is for people working in advice and support agencies, and serves as an introduction to recognising fuel poverty and providing energy efficiency advice.

This training will be particularly valuable for those working with clients who struggle to maintain a basic quality of life through being unable to heat their homes or afford their household bills. It will be useful even if your primary reason for visiting clients is not about their energy use.

This 2.5-hour course is both in-person and online. It has one module which covers the fundamentals of fuel poverty, energy efficiency and giving energy advice.

• How to recognise that someone is in fuel poverty.
• Health and social impacts of living in a cold home.
• Advice on using heating and hot water controls.
• Dealing with electricity and gas suppliers.
• Making the home more energy efficient.
• Tackling damp and mould.
• How to give energy efficiency advice to the people you support.
• Accessing further support.

Our trainers are all fuel poverty experts who have practical experience working with vulnerable customers and delivering advice.

Tickets

Anyone from a not-for-profit organisation can attend this training for free. Those from other organisation types can access the training for a donation – we recommend between £15 and £20.

Upcoming sessions

Sessions are 10am-12:30pm.

The next online session is on Wednesday 11 November 2026.

In person on 16 December 2026 and online 4 February 2027.

More details can be found on our Eventbrite page.

Community Action on Energy

We also deliver training to support community level action on energy, with half day or whole day courses on Energy champions and Energy efficiency in community buildings.

Energy champions interactive session:

• The role of an energy champion
• Bills, meters and switching tariffs
• Heating systems and controls
• Insulation and draught proofing
• Damp, mould and condensation
• Energy saving tips, appliances and lighting
• Tenant rights and engaging with landlords
• Signposting and referrals

Energy efficiency in community buildings:

• How to look at and understand buildings
• Common issues, repair and maintenance
• Considerations for healthier, sustainable, resilient buildings
• Heating and ventilation 
• Solar panels and batteries
• Listed buildings and conservation areas
• People, energy, buildings, and climate
• What to look for in a good survey, and questions to ask installers

Bespoke training sessions

We can deliver bespoke training  on a range of topics, including Engagement and Communication; Sustainability Action Planning; Identifying Opportunities in your Local Area, and on several of our tools and resources, such as our Future Energy Landscapes approach (FEL workshops), neighbourhood carbon foot printing Impact carbon footprinting and DIY community building  energy auditing.

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