GC Education and Skills welcomed dignitaries, politicians, partners and employers to celebrate the official launch of the brand-new Green Skills Academy last Thursday.
Opened officially by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, the Green Skills Academy, is a one-stop shop for learners who want to kick-start their careers in emerging technologies and businesses looking to prepare their workforce for the transition to a carbon neutral economy.
The first of its kind in the UK, the Green Skills Academy boasts innovative green technologies and a comprehensive training offer and will play a critical role in Greater Manchester’s ambitions to reach Net Zero carbon as early as 2038 and will work with businesses UK-wide in order to help hit the national 2050 target.
Housed in Trafford Park, the Academy hosts a number of real-world work environments to show how existing homes can be entirely powered by green technology. The onsite Low Energy Smart
Home includes state-of-the-art automated technology as well as heat recovery and cooling systems that demonstrate how responsive they can be.
With an increased uptake in green technology, demand is growing for people with the necessary skills to install, repair and maintain these facilities.
The Green Skills Academy has the capacity on site to train up to 100 learners per day. From level 2 to 3 qualifications, boot camps, online training and short courses, the Academy has a programme to suit everyone’s career aims, including:
- Dual Fuel Smart Meter Installation Apprenticeship
- Level 3 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- Level 2/3 Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance, Repair and Replacement
- Level 3 Air Source Heat Pump Installation
- Level 3 Award in the Installation of Small Scale Solar Photovoltaic
- Wind Turbine Installation
Roosevelt Alexander, Director of the Green Skills Academy, said: “A mass roll-out of sustainable energy solutions remains vital to accelerate our country’s transition to net zero carbon, and the impact of rising energy costs across the country is giving new impetus to the urgency.
“A tremendous effort is required for this transition, and we see the Green Skills Academy - with its access to training in emerging technologies such as electric vehicle charging point installation, ground and air source heat pumps, solar panels, smart home programming systems, wind turbine installation along with a range of retrofit qualifications - as being on the front line in terms of how we will help our workforce, individual households and communities to play a key part in the fight back against climate change.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Green Skills Academy come to fruition. As a hub for the latest qualifications and skills opportunities it will give people the invaluable experience needed to work with emerging green technologies. I can’t wait to see learners of all ages become part of the story here.
“Credit has to go to The Growth Company for having the ambition and foresight to invest in the Green Skills Academy. I’m excited to say that Greater Manchester can boast about another first for the UK, putting the city-region and the North at the forefront of tackling the green skills gap and meeting our climate challenges head on.”
The Green Skills Academy is supported by a wide range of industry-leading partners, including Evergreen Energy, RPS Group, Nibe, Sunamp, Solen and more.
Graham Rothwell, Chief Executive of RPS Group, said: “We are delighted to be a partner of the Green Skills Academy. As a local business, it’s important to us that we offer support to like-minded organisations. Our sector is facing a green skills shortage- but, by working in collaboration across the GMCA and beyond, we can help to plug the green skills gap, create jobs for local people and provide new training opportunities. The formal opening of the academy is an exciting day, and we look forward to seeing what can be achieved by all involved.”
The Green Skills Academy is open to apprentices, sole traders and micro businesses to SMEs and larger organisations to help future-proof the workforce in these specialist areas. There are opportunities for those working in skilled trades across the North* including electricians, plumbers, roofers, gas engineers, construction workers, heating programmers and technicians.
Visit the Green Skills Academy website to find out more about the courses available.
If you’re a manager and would like to find out more about how we can help you to futureproof your business and upskill your staff in emerging green technologies, please email greenskillsacademy@growthco.uk.
