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Retrofit Skills Level 2

Retrofit training that’s practical, accredited and good for business

The Retrofit Skills Level 2 qualification will equip you and your team with the essential skills to lead the way in energy-efficient construction for existing buildings.

  • Boost your business with retrofit skills: Give yourself and your team the latest retrofit training to expand your services and wow your customers.
  • Practical and flexible learning: Learn through a mix of online modules and hands-on sessions, tailored to fit your schedule and on-site commitments.
  • Get a competitive edge: Learn how to sell retrofit services with accredited training that builds your expertise, enabling you to offer innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for sustainable homes.
Register your place here

On this page:

“Green Register training is always delivered by experts in their fields and has helped us enormously as a company. We’ve been able to improve the quality of our work and increase our efficiency, thanks to the knowledge and skills we’ve gained from your courses.” 

Ben East, Earthwise Construction 
Retrofit Skills Level 2

About the Retrofit Skills Level 2 Qualification

Retrofit Skills Level 2 is a hybrid qualification, with both online and practical components, which provides foundational training for individuals and businesses looking to move into retrofit construction. The Green Register builds upon 24 years of sustainable construction training, including the Futureproof training developed especially for contractors. Retrofit Skills has been developed in partnership with experts including PAS2035 technical author, Dr Sarah Price.

The Retrofit Skills Level 2 qualification is accredited by ABBE. The qualification specification is available here.

Course structure

The Retrofit Skills qualification combines interactive online learning with practical, hands-on sessions. Each module will be assessed and accredited by ABBE, a built environment specialist awarding body. The ‘stackable’ approach to training allows learners to build and evidence training achievements as they move through their careers. 

Initially, during the first release of the course, the practical sessions will be held in the West of England. You must be able to attend these training sessions to complete the qualification. Please see FAQs below for more information.

Who is it suitable for?

The course is suitable for contractors, tradespeople and other professionals who wish to develop or improve their technical knowledge in achieving high quality outcomes in low carbon retrofit in the domestic sector. Prior construction experience is essential, but specific retrofit experience is not.

Entry requirements

  • Suitable for contractors, trades, and other key players in the construction workforce who wish to gain the skills needed to start understanding retrofit measures.
  • Learners should be aged 19+ and have been working in the construction industry for 1 year or more.
  • During the first release of the course, some of the mandatory training components will be held in the West of England region. You must be able to attend these training sessions to complete the qualification.

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Rates

  • During the first release of the qualification under the Retrofit West Business Support initiative* the course is available to individuals within the West of England region at the generously subsidised rate of £149 per person.
  • If you are based outside of this region, you can still register for the first release of the course at standard rates
  • The Retrofit West Business Support Initiative runs until June 2025 in the West of England region. Subsidised rates are available to eligible applicants for the duration. Standard rates for participants are detailed below.
  • Substantial discounts on rates for this course and our training throughout the year are available to members of The Green Register. It pays to become a member of The Green Register!
  • If you are not yet ready to book a place on the course, please use this form to register your interest so we can keep you up to date with future developments

  Non-member The Green Register Member of The Green Register
Individual within West of England region £149 £149
Individual outside West of England region £595 £445
2-10 people in same organisation (price per person)  £475 £415
11+ people in same organisation (price per person)  £445 £385

Register your place here

We owe The Green Register a debt of gratitude for kickstarting our retrofit journey. All of us have greatly increased our knowledge and skill sets, and it’s kickstarted further learning and qualifications. Courses are well-structured, engaging and delivered by leaders in their field.

Jonathan Preston, Parnosa

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About Retrofit West Business Support

Retrofit West Business Support aims to create a skilled retrofit workforce, promote sustainable practices, and support businesses like yours to deliver low-carbon measures effectively across the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority area. If you’re based in B&NES, Bristol or South Gloucestershire, you could access The Green Register’s retrofit qualification training at a reduced cost, as well as other workshops, loans and grants. Additionally, you’ll gain access to the Retrofit West Professional Directory, connecting you with customers seeking retrofit professionals.

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FAQs

How long does it take to complete the course?

    • The course may be completed within approximately 15-20 hours. To achieve the qualification, all online and practical modules are recommended to be completed within 6 months of registration date. For any queries, please contact us at mail@greenregister.org.uk

Where can I see the qualification specification?

When and where will the practical modules be held?

    • The 2024/2025 release is funded by the Retrofit West Business Support Initiative. This means the practical modules for this release will be held in and around the West of England region (Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire).

    • From November 2024 to January 2025, practical modules will be held across a variety of venues in the Bristol and Bath areas. You will be given exact venue and travel information when you book onto a practical module.

    • Practical training sessions will be scheduled each month with date options to choose from.

    • We will be working to expand the locations offered for the practical element of the course beyond the West of England region in future.

Do I have to live in the West of England region to do the course?

    • You are welcome to join the course even if you live outside the West of England region and are able to attend the practical training sessions. The first release of this course is funded by the Retrofit West Business Support Initiative and only trainees based in the West of England region are eligible for the subsidised rate of £149. The rate you pay will depend on whether you are a member of The Green Register or not, as well as on the number of people participating from your team. If you’d like to become a member before registering for the qualification, please visit our Membership page.

    • You must also be able to attend the practical modules that form part of the course, which for the 2024/2025 release of this course will be held in locations within Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

How is the course assessed?

    • The online modules are assessed within the learning management system that you’ll be starting the course on. Practical assessments will be led by a trainer at an in-person training session.

Who is the course accredited by?

Who will be teaching the modules?

    • Online modules are designed to be learned in your own time at a pace that suits you. They have been written by Dr. Sarah Price, Technical Author of retrofit standard PAS205, in conjunction with other well-regarded industry subject experts. Practical module trainers include Ben East, of Earthwise Construction, Toby Carter, of United Heating, and Dave Judd.

I’m a homeowner. Should I do this course?

    • If you are a homeowner interested in retrofit, this qualification is definitely relevant to you. If you’ve got a background in trades and plan to do the retrofit yourself, you’ll learn the foundations of how to carry out an effective retrofit that takes airtightness and ventilation into account. If you’re going to hire someone to retrofit your house for you, then you’ll be able to make a more-informed decision on who has the right knowledge for the job. Either way, you’ll benefit from being on this course.

Who is this course suitable for?

    • This course is designed primarily for construction professionals and builders who want to deepen their retrofit skills and gain a qualification. However, anyone with an interest in retrofit is welcome to join. A base level of understanding in construction can help participants get the most out of the course, but anyone with a strong willingness to learn can benefit from this course. 

When can I start the course?

    • There is no set start date for the online part of the course – it is designed to fit around your existing commitments. After you book a place on the course, we will contact you to provide you with access to the online learning modules.

How many course modules are there and what do they cover?

    • There are four online modules (1-2 hours each):
        • Module 1 – Principles and Practical Application of Sustainable Retrofit
          What is retrofit and why to we need to retrofit buildings? Introduction to whole house retrofit

        • Module 2 – Retrofit Process Costing, Carbon Counting and Funding
          All stages of good-practice retrofit process and how to use metrics for client decision making

        • Module 3 – Essentials of Heat Loss, Moisture and Ventilation
          How these key concepts work together – and how to avoid building defects from unintended consequences

        • Module 4 – Practical Retrofit Delivery: Building fabric, Serivces & Low Carbon Technologies
          Best practice examples of sustainable retrofit projects – and what to avoid

    • There are three practical training modules (3-4 hours each):
        • Module 5 – Insulation and Airtightness Practical
          Insulation and detailing to optimise building performance. Selecting insulation and airtightness materials and their practical application

        • Module 6 – Heat pumps
          Heat pump types, preliminary works for installation and considerations for homeowners

        • Module 7 – Services Practical (Ventilation)
          Ventilation systems for domestic retrofit. Siting systems, understanding component parts and connections

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