Paul's Story

Realising Our Goal: Increasing Participation of Employers

ABC Awards and the Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust (CSBT) are working to create an employer led qualification that will meet the growing needs of a ‘greener’ South West region and help preserve the environment.

CSBT is the first provider in the South West to offer an accredited route into employment in the sustainable building sector as an ABC Awards Accredited Centre delivering the ABC Awards Level 2 Certificate in Sustainable Energy.  As a relatively new but expanding industry within the UK, the renewable energy sector suffers skills shortages that are already constraining growth.

According to Paul Bright, Chief Executive of CSBT, the Level 2 Certificate is an important part of developing the workforce in the South West for sustainable energy and building confidence in a new and growing market.

“Sustainable building is a crucial area for development and there is a large demand for renewable energy installations. It’s important to get rigour into the system so it is measurable, and to ensure that a sustainable market for renewable energy systems develops.

“Cornwall is leading the way with both a growing installer network and an informed public demanding a quality service.”

About 50 per cent of the new certificate is to be delivered via work-based learning on real installations. “I am very keen for the award to be immediately relevant and the best way to achieve that is to work with our installers” added Paul.

ABC Awards also recently announced that development work has begun on a Level 3 Diploma in Sustainable Energy as a progression from Level 2. This is being developed with support from a number of local and national employers, and the relevant SSCs.

Paul Bright, Chief Executive of Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust

The Level 2 Certificate in Sustainable Energy is administered from ABC Awards Taunton Office at Learning South West. Tracy Harker, ABC Awards South West Business Development Manager, said: “It’s vital that we build on the Level 2 Certificate to help ensure there is a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce to meet demand. These qualifications aim to develop industry specific skills and knowledge, and also transferable skills, to help build capacity to deliver the targets for growth in renewable energy as part of the Government strategy for energy in the UK.”