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, they are equally suited for the seasoned energy advisor who wants to expand their knowledge, or for someone 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

• Domestic Energy Essentials (CPD certified)

• Community Action on Energy courses and bespoke training

Retrofit and smart energy essentials

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

What is Retrofit? – Level 1 (Suitable for anyone)

• What is Retrofit and why does it matter?
• Retrofit, carbon and the UK decarbonisation plan.
• Regulations and retrofit.
• Understanding the building; property types and fabric.
• The importance of maintenance, draughtproofing, and insulation. 
• Moisture control and ventilation.  

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

• The problem with Retrofit.
• Operational and embodied carbon in retrofit.
• Updated thinking on the energy hierarchy.
• Regulations and planning. 
• Understanding the whole building.
• Traditional vs Modern construction.
• Appropriate insulation measures.
• Ventilation and air quality.  

Part 2 – CPD Certified

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 Vehicles.

Part 3 – CPD Certified

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 – CPD Certified

This CPD-certified training will help individuals and organisations who work with low-income families and support them to stay warm, healthy and out of debt.

This training will be particularly valuable for those working with vulnerable 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 vulnerable clients is not about energy usage.

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.

All our trainers are talented fuel poverty experts who have practical experience working with vulnerable customers and delivering advice across the industry to fight against fuel poverty.

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

The next online session is on Wednesday 29 April (10:00am to 12:30pm).

The next in-person session is on Thursday 10 September (10:00am to 12:30pm)

More details and upcoming sessions 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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