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

The energy system is changing: becoming smarter and more complex. But many people feel left behind by the pace of change.

This 3-part CPD credited training session is designed to address this. It offers anyone wanting to update their knowledge – whether they specialise in energy, benefits, housing, community support or retrofit – a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of smart energy technology, low carbon household energy use and domestic retrofit.

By the end of it, participants will feel confident discussing smart energy options and able to help the people they support to make informed choices and participate in the UK’s future energy system.

New dates

Retrofit and Smart Energy Essentials comprises of 4 modules. Module 1b is aimed at people with some prior knowledge, such as energy advisors or those with retrofit training. Modules 1a, 2 and 3 are suitable for all.

Forthcoming dates for all four modules are listed below.

• Module 1a – Retrofit Essentials, Thursday 12 November, 1.30 to 4 pm.
• Module 1b – Sustainable Home Adaptations, Thursday 19 November, 1.30 to 4 pm.
• Module 2 – Smart Energy Essentials, Thursday 26 November, 1.30 to 4 pm.
• Module 3 – Low Carbon Tech, Thursday 3 December, 1.30 to 4 pm.

See below for more details about each module.

The training can be taken in parts, and you can choose the sessions that suit you. You’ll receive a CPD certificate after each module.

Please register your interest, and we’ll get back to you with our pricing structure. If you volunteer, work for a small community group or are part of the Energy Advice Support Network, you may be entitled to free or reduced-price tickets.

Individual bookings: please register your interest here.

Organisational or group bookings: please register your interest here.

Course details

There are four modules in this course. Trainees take either 1a or 1b, depending on their level of experience in the energy advice sector.

(1a) Retrofit Essentials

This module is suitable for anyone. It covers

• Demystifying retrofit. 
• The relevance of carbon in retrofit adaptations. 
• Introduction to rules and regulations.  
• Understanding the building, its users 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.   

(1b) Sustainable Home Adaptations 

This module is designed for people with more knowledge of the subject, such as energy advisors or those with retrofit training. It covers

• The importance of sustainable retrofit adaptations. 
• Whole-life carbon and sustainability. 
• Rules, regulations, and getting it right. 
• Taking a ‘whole-house, whole-year’ approach, in the context of a changing climate. 
• Housing types and evolving approaches to retrofit.
• Ventilation and indoor air quality.  

(2) Smart Energy in the Home

This module is suitable for both beginners and those with experience in the sector. It covers:

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

(3) Low Carbon Heating and Home Energy Generation

This module is suitable for both beginners and those with experience in the sector. It covers:

• 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 including biomass, infrared and hydrogen.

Domestic Energy Essentials

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.

Fees

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 to 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:

What makes a great energy champion? This course covers:

• 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:

This training ask what we need to consider when seeking to make our community buildings healthier, sustainable, and more resilient. It covers:

• How to look at and understand buildings.
• Common issues, repair and maintenance.
• 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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