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Exeter College and Bradfords Building Supplies Host Successful Retrofit and Renewables Awareness Events in Partnership with East Devon District Council

Exeter College, in collaboration with Bradfords Building Supplies and East Devon District Council, successfully completed a series of events aimed at raising awareness of retrofit and renewable technologies. These events, held at Bradfords’ Axminster, Honiton, and Exmouth branches, were part of the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) project designed to benefit East Devon residents and businesses.

The SPF project, a joint initiative between East Devon District Council and Exeter College, seeks to extend the reach of retrofit and renewable technology education beyond traditional learning environments. Bradfords and Exeter College joined forces to explore innovative ways to engage a broader audience, including both Bradfords customers and the public.

On specific days in February and March, Exeter College, along with renewable suppliers and members of the Green Skills Advisory Panel, took over the three Bradfords branches. These events provided valuable information, advice, and guidance on renewable technologies, the whole house retrofit approach, sustainable materials, and the training opportunities available at Exeter College.

The events were designed to serve as a one-stop shop for attendees to learn about the latest advancements in renewable technologies and sustainable building practices. Through targeted advertising, the events successfully attracted a diverse audience, eager to explore the benefits of retrofitting and renewable energy solutions.

Giles Bradford, Head of Sustainability at Bradfords commented;

“The scale of the retrofit challenge in the region is huge. It’s great to see local authorities getting behind schemes like this to help people understand retrofit and the solutions available. We were pleased to be able to provide a platform for this given our close relationship with both those who are going to need to do the improvements required and the supply chain for the solutions they will install.”

Luke Moss, Skills and Project Manager at Exeter College added;

“Our collaboration with Bradfords has expanded our reach, enabling us to share vital information on retrofitting, renewable energy, and essential skills. By offering a comprehensive one-stop shop for the public and trades professionals alike, we are breaking down barriers and facilitating engagement with the broader supply chain. We are excited to continue this partnership through our Green Skills Advisory Panel and Building Greater Exeter connections.”

We extend our thanks to East Devon District Council for their unwavering support with the SPF project and to Bradfords Building Supplies for generously allowing us to take over their branches for these events. We would also like to thank the suppliers and retrofit professionals who kindly gave up their time to attend the events, providing their expert advice.

Upcoming Courses

There is still time to sign up for our remaining courses, including Introduction to Heat Pumps, Solar, and Retrofit, as well as our Level 2 Understanding Domestic Retrofit qualification.

To find out more please contact: Luke Moss, Skills and Project Manager, lukemoss@exe-coll.ac.uk, 01392 400996.

Exeter College is proud to be part of a consortium of Further Education and training providers to deliver skills to the South West. Working in partnership with the Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and the Somerset Chamber of Commerce the consortium has been created to act as a catalyst to align educational provision with business needs in the region. 

Consortium members, Exeter College, City College Plymouth, Bridgewater & Taunton College, Petroc, South Devon College, Strode College, Yeovil College, Focus Training and SWATPRO (DSTPN) are delighted to have each been awarded a share of £2.5m from the Department for Education for two projects; “The Heart of the South West Collaboration for Success”, and “Green Skills for the Future”.   

Members of the consortium will collaborate to deliver regionally significant projects which focus on delivering skills and training in green construction, automotive, digital, engineering and advanced propulsion.   

As part of this vision Exeter College has ambitious plans to develop the first Retrofit Skills Centre in Devon, working with Taylor Lewis and designed by APG, the centre will be an essential addition to the College’s Construction Centre at Sowton Industrial Estate. 

To enable collaborative success, the College has set-up the new Green Skills Advisory Panel (GCAP). GCAP is a member-led committee of local building services, housing and construction businesses supported by local authorities, charities and training providers across the South West. The clear purpose is to upskill current workforces and provide green careers, where individuals are educated about new and emerging technologies and techniques to reduce the impact on the environment. 

John Laramy CBE, Principal and CEO at Exeter College said: 

“Through collaboration and working with industry leading experts and partners, we are well placed to drive the ambitions of the local authorities and the community. Our ambition is that by providing bespoke qualifications, niche skills can be developed to meet the burgeoning demand.  

“This funding is an integral part of making this happen and we are excited to work with consortium members to deliver these much-needed skills to our region to enable employers to flourish. 

“Exeter College is committed to leading by example on environmental sustainability and this is initiative will help in our plan to be carbon neutral by 2030.” 

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