MP for Richmond (Yorks), Rishi Sunak, visited renewables training provider, GTEC – a company leading the way when it comes to creating the ‘green’ installers needed to meet carbon reduction targets.
At the end of last year, GTEC won a bid to provide heavily discounted training and certification to individuals and companies looking to upskill into heat-based renewables, backed by The Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through Midlands Energy Hub (MEH).
Named the Renewable Heat Installer Training & Support Scheme (RHITSS), the scheme offers vouchers which provide up to 70% off the cost of becoming a renewables installer. There are currently 1,000 training places and 150 businesses signed-up to RHITSS – spaces that were filled within 10 days of the schemes launch. Vouchers can be used at GTEC and also other LCL Awards and BPEC approved centres throughout the UK.
While at the centre, Rishi met with candidates to find out how training was helping them and reviewed the range of renewable technologies available at GTEC including heat pumps, solar thermal with battery storage coming soon. He also chatted to other industry representatives – Awarding Organisation LCL Awards, NAPIT an installer certification body, and the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), all of which GTEC have worked with to make the RHITSS scheme a success.
The trip provided Rishi with an opportunity to meet a constituent company that is thriving despite the challenges of Covid-19. The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) gave GTEC the confidence to put together the winning bid for RHITTS, a scheme which has created jobs in the local area – at GTEC and for the installers benefitting from the new business opportunities that the training has led to.
GTEC’s MD, Griff Thomas, is a key representative for his industry, Chairing the Decarbonising Housing Group for Richmondshire and having contributed to most of the national renewable technology standards. Griff is also called-upon for training advice from much further afield – he is currently working with the British Commission in India, as part of the countries drive to de-carbonise its cities.
Rishi’s visit coincided with confirmation from Midlands Energy Hub and BEIS that the RHITSS scheme has had its deadline extended to 30th September 2021. The extension was granted in recognition of the difficulties that some candidates have had in securing a place due to Covid restrictions (previously it was May 14th.)
Visit GTEC to view the range of training offered in the renewables field.
