Energy efficiency training if you’ve lost job

New energy efficiency training funding has been made available for people resident in Scotland who have lost their jobs or are at risk of redundancy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Energy Skills Partnership (ESP) will be distributing funding through the National Transition Training Fund (NTTF) to nine colleges across Scotland – including Forth Valley College – to allow them to upskill tradespeople and help them move into roles with better potential for future growth and job retention.

Supported by the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government, the NTTF funding is aimed at people aged 25 or over who are either facing redundancy or who are unemployed having been made redundant any date after 1 March 2020. However, training must be completed by the 31 July 2021.

It will offer training opportunities in areas with the potential for growth in the labour market with employment prospects. The energy efficiency sector will be a key focus with training available in areas such as: heat pumps and solar thermal; external wall insultation, energy battery storage, digital smart homes and elec tric vehicle charging as well as the more conventional 18th Edition Electrical Training.

Applications can be made by an individual or their employer.

FVC principal Dr Ken Thomson said: “FVC is once again at the forefront of delivering opportunities to retrain and upskill people who have lost their jobs or are at risk of redundancy in the construction sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are delighted to be working in partnership with ESP to support the country’s economic recovery and to minimise the impact on livelihoods in light of the current health crisis.”

For more information on the funding and the courses available at FVC e-mail: training@forthvalley.ac.uk