Adegbenga has a passion for education and has worked in Further and Higher Education for nearly 20 years; in teaching, administration, research and maintenance. In his current role at City of Bristol College as the Programme Manager of Design, Electrical, Construction and the Built Environment, he leads a dedicated team, managing the construction skills programme. He is a Member of the Association of Project Management (MAPM), and a Chartered Builder (MCIOB). 

The Green Register’s Programme Director Tom Westwood interviewed Adegbenga Ashiru to learn more about his experience in retrofit and City of Bristol College’s plans for the future of retrofit education.

What has your career path been to training in the construction sector? 

I started in Higher Education in 2006 as a workshop technologist, teaching on Level 3 National Diploma programme in building technology. From there I moved to the Polytechnic estates team, managing a team of contractors to undertake building repairs and upgrades, and liaising between the contracting team and building users. I obtained a Construction Management BSc (Hons) in 2013 & then moved back into education in 2015 as a lecturer in building technology, teaching at level 3 and level 5. In 2023, I obtained an MSc in Construction Project Management before moving into my current strategic leadership role in 2024.  

I have a real commitment to learning & growth, and am passionate about aligning training with industry needs, creating a bridge for students to the real world, and knowing that partnership with industry feeds student engagement. I have a family history of teaching, so education has always been there for me. 

What was your motivation to sign up to the Green Register’s Retrofit Skills course?  

I have a real passion for sustainable construction, and my new role allows me to collaborate with others in that field. I want to create a pathway into retrofit for people, offering all-round training. The Green Register’s course really aligned with my goals, giving me the foundational knowledge to manage the academic programmes; understanding what tutors need to teach, and supervising the construction technologies programmes. From my project management background and interest in coordination, I also want to add new technologies into our training offer such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) as well as digital twins to address the pressing issues of retrofitting sustainably.  

Tell us about the retrofit training you are developing at City of Bristol College?  

We want to equip both young and older learners with the skills for green construction. From September 2025 we will be running Level 3 awards in heat pumps, Photovoltaics & Electrical Vehicle charging installation and maintenance. We will also be running Level 2 retrofit programmes, targeting both contractors already in the sector and young people – there are experienced contractors who want to train in new skills as well as school leavers who want to join the industry. These programmes form part of our plans to make our Parkway Campus into a sustainable building hub. 

Do the young people you meet relate to a career in retrofit? 

They hear a lot in the news from government, but don’t necessarily join the dots. Our aim is to open their eyes to careers in the sector and the impact they can have. We focus on the most relatable concepts – energy efficiency, reducing bills and energy poverty, being healthy & not burdening the NHS. We also get them out of the classroom, organising site visits with Bristol City Leap and VOR Group which really help show them the reality of the career opportunities and allow them to meet those in industry. Our aim is to integrate domestic retrofit education into 60% of our construction technologies programmes.  

We also recently collaborated on a 2-day retrofit schools programme for our construction and built environment students in June 2025 with Knowle West Media Centre, Bath University and Bristol University which is a great way to reach outside the college and explore skills, careers, and knowledge involved in retrofitting homes to be more sustainable for the future.  

What would engage more young people to work in sustainable construction? 

Engaging young people in sustainable construction starts with showing them the power of their contribution to a greener world. It’s about blending innovation with purpose, where they can create solutions that not only shape skylines but also protect the planet, and our Level 3 construction and built environment programmes offer the learners a route towards that. Retrofit pathways give them wider options in a dynamic construction industry, and there is good money to be earned in the retrofit sector, with roles such as Retrofit coordinators or retrofit advisors paying well. All trades such as bricklaying, carpentry, electrical or plastering have routes for transition to other roles in the retrofit sector, so we emphasise the opportunities for career development.  It also helps having live examples of green construction on site at the college such as the heat pump, EV charging and solar installation infrastructure we are installing. By connecting environmental sustainability learning within these programmes to what’s happening in construction, like minimising water use, or fast-tracking construction through MMC, we can inspire students with these possibilities for them.

Retrofit Skills

If you’d like to experience the forefront of retrofit education for yourself, learn more about Retrofit Skills Level 2 below.