Exeter College and East Devon District Council (EDDC) are proud to announce significant achievements through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) East Devon Retrofit Programme. This project aims to provide upskilling and reskilling opportunities for students, residents and businesses of East Devon through a broad range of retrofit and renewable courses, which is a priority in EDDC’s Economic Development Strategy.

Available to the public and construction professionals, Exeter College has designed and delivered short flexible courses to provide foundational knowledge and skills progression to promote sustainable methods of construction.

This project also focuses on school engagement, delivering green careers talks and workshops to secondary schools across East Devon. This collaborative effort has significantly contributed to raising awareness of green careers, training, and skills to pupils from Years 7 – 11.

Key achievements of the project include:

• Raising Awareness: Over 1,000 students from East Devon secondary schools have been introduced to green careers, training, and skills in construction

• Certification and Qualifications: More than 100 East Devon residents have gained certificates or qualifications in retrofit, solar, heat pump, insulation and teaching

• Supporting Industry Professionals: 6 construction professionals have been supported into education by gaining the Level 3 Award in Education and Training, addressing the skills shortage in the sector

These achievements would not have been possible without the generosity, time and commitment of key contributors from across the region. We would like to take this opportunity to thank:

• Daikin – Leading the Introduction to Heat Pumps course and providing essential knowledge on energy-efficient heating solutions.

• Naked Solar– Delivering the Introduction to Solar course, and equipping participants with fundamental insights into solar energy systems.

• Paul Brown, Green Skills Lecturer at Exeter College & Managing Director of Swifix – Leading both the Introduction to Retrofit and Level 2 Understanding Domestic Retrofit courses.

• Bradfords Building Supplies – Supporting modern methods of construction by opening their East Devon branches to promote awareness of sustainable building materials.

Exeter College would also like to recognise those employers who have supported our school engagement events; BCR Associates, Taylor Wimpey, Coreus Group, Progressive, Willmott Dixon, SDS, Kier, Bell Group, Generation 4 Change, Ward Williams and Shared Apprenticeships. The generosity, dedication, and support of our valued employer partners have had a profound impact on students in the region, enhancing their understanding of green skills, guiding their next steps, and opening doors to future career opportunities in the sector.

“We are thrilled with the positive impact this project has had on our community,” said Luke Moss, Skills Manager at Exeter College. “By working together, we have not only enhanced educational opportunities for our young people and adults but also supported the growth of green careers and sustainable practices across our region.”

Cllr Paul Hayward, East Devon District Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economy and Assets, said:

“Supporting our residents to upskill and reskill into green careers is vital to developing the workforce we need to reach Net Zero by 2040. I’m delighted that we have been able to provide free opportunities for businesses and individuals to develop new skills and inspire the next generation to pursue jobs in clean growth industries.”

Whilst we are proud to celebrate our shared successes to date, we also recognise the importance of continuing this vital partnership. By ensuring the long-term impact and longevity of this project, we can continue to remove barriers to training and increase job opportunities for the students, residents and businesses of East Devon. For more information about future courses, please visit the Green Skills Advisory Panel website.

For more information, please contact: Luke Moss, Skills Manager, Exeter College, lukemoss@exe-coll.ac.uk.