Member Article

Gateshead College receive £75,000 Green Deal funding

Gateshead College has won a share of £1m of government funding to improve the skills of advisors on energy efficiency in properties.

The college is one of the first organisations in the North East to receive the grant, which it will use to train people to become qualified Green Deal energy assessors.

£75,000 of the ‘Go early’ fund was awarded from the Department of Energy and Climate Change to the college, which has already taken significant steps within the low carbon sector.

The scheme hopes to create 1,000 new assessors to work within local communities and in businesses to advise on how to become more energy efficient.

The Green Deal is set to launch later this year, and aims to renovate existing homes and commercial buildings to reduce draughts, and minimise the inefficiency of properties.

As an experienced player in building services and the low carbon skills sector, Gateshead College will use the fund to train 60 Green Deal assessors at its Skills Academy for Construction, based on Team Valley.

Gateshead College has recently extended the 50, 000 sq ft academy with an investment of £7.5m.

The scheme will potentially create jobs within the public sector and local authority organisations, which will be recruiting assessors in the coming year.

Paul Gough, commercial operations manager at Gateshead College said: “The contract win is a major coup for us and fits within our green employability agenda.

“We already have a track record in energy assessment training so we were able to demonstrate sector knowledge, clear expertise and success in the sector to secure the Green Deal work.

“Trained, skilled professionals in assessing property energy efficiency and installing insulation will be crucial for getting the Green Deal scheme off the ground.

“So, we will not only be equipping experienced people with the extra skills they need but helping others who are looking to retrain or re-enter the job market find jobs and pursue new career opportunities.”

Gateshead College has a current annual turnover of £40m and is one of the leading green energy trainers in the North East.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .