Local Birmingham based independent construction and property management consultant Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK) has announced a new partnership to support green skills development in the region.

The partnership includes ties with Birmingham City Council, Bolsover District Council (and its innovative, wholly owned company Dragonfly Development Ltd) and East Lindsey District Council to.

Appointed to support three retrofit skills development pilots funded by the Midlands Net Zero Hub, RLB’s sustainability team was instrumental in the three councils gaining over £450,000 funding from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Following a research pilot undertaken by RLB to assess the retrofit skills needed in the region, the funding will enable:

• Pilot regional resource to coordinate retrofit skills development between LAs, employers and education providers
• Investment in colleges to provide low carbon tech training equipment and training for tutors and lecturers 
• A permanent retrofit employers’ forum for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
• Creation of collaborative retrofit regional careers pathway strategy and careers engagement materials targeting young people and SMEs

The project has engaged and benefitted dozens of stakeholders including those in councils, colleges, universities and retrofit employers across the Midlands.

The RLB Sustainability team was instrumental in the development of the funding request, roadmap for green skills action, and leading the pilot delivery on behalf of all partners.

Peter Hayakawa, sustainability associate at RLB said: “Retrofitting our housing stock is one of the elephants in the room for UK net zero.

“The need to triple our current retrofit workforce to achieve these targets represents a challenge but also huge opportunities for regional green economic development as well as young people, SMEs and the existing workforce. We're proud to work with Bolsover, Birmingham, and East Lindsey councils that are leading the way for the Midlands on this agenda." 

 Chris Fridlington, director of devolution and development at Bolsover District Council said: “Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK) have supported and helped drive this project across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Birmingham, and East Lindsey.

“As a Council we are seeing the outcomes of their work with the development of support networks for our businesses, educators, and local authorities. 

“In the future we hope to see residents from our area leading the Net Zero transition through skills developed by this project.”