The Retrofit Academy CIC is at the heart of delivering leading-edge training and professional development to a new generation of retrofit professionals in the UK, we are the driving force of retrofit knowledge and skills.
Our vision is a world where every home is warm, healthy and low carbon – fit for the future.
Did you know that by 2050, the UK has a legally- binding commitment to be carbon (CO2) neutral?
Do you know that over 25% of all CO2 emissions in the UK come from living in and providing energy for our homes?
Did you also know that the UK has some of the oldest, draughtiest housing stock in the country?
So it follows that we can’t deliver on the government’s targets if we don’t reduce the amount of wasted heat and power in our homes.
We achieve these savings by insulating our homes properly, by introducing greener heating solutions and renewable energy sources such as solar panels or heat pumps. Over the next 30 years, we are going to do lots of this too! There are 27 million homes in the UK and the overwhelming majority will need retrofitting. We currently only do thousands per year. We need an army of retrofitters in both white and blue collar roles to make this a reality.
This qualification is the ideal place to start your retrofit journey. It takes a few days to complete, and it will (as the title suggests) give you a good understanding of what domestic retrofit involves. The qualification is applicable to a wide range of people, including those already working in the sector, those considering joining it and those who are impacted by it.
Retrofit is a new and exciting sector of the economy that should offer rewarding careers for thousands of people. Anybody currently working in this sector or thinking of working in it in the future would benefit from holding the Understanding Domestic Retrofit qualification.
Here are some of the key occupations in the retrofit sector:
In addition, there are job roles in sectors such as social housing where this qualification will be valuable. For example, Tenant Liaison Officers, Asset Managers and Energy and Sustainability Officers.
The government is investing heavily in retrofit projects as it begins to ramp up its decarbonisation drive. Schemes like the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund amount to around £2 bn per year.
Employers in the retrofit sector include local authorities, housing associations, installers, energy companies, contractors and sub-contractors. Many people are also self-employed or set up their own businesses.
All these job roles will require additional qualifications. However, Understanding Domestic Retrofit is a great place to start your career in the sector.
The National Open College Network (NOCN) Level 2 Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit (UDR) is an Ofqual regulated qualification.
If you’re new to the world of domestic retrofit, it will give you a comprehensive and easy to follow introduction to whole-house retrofit. If you have some experience of energy efficiency projects already, it will build your knowledge to give you the bigger picture of domestic retrofit.
Learners will gain an understanding of what domestic retrofit is, what it is supposed to achieve, what you need to know when working in the industry, and what to look out for when installing energy efficiency measures in homes.
The course is designed to improve the employability of learners. Employers are increasingly seeking staff who understand the fundamentals of retrofitting.
The NOCN Level 2 Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit builds on The Retrofit Academy’s expertise in retrofit training and has been developed by some of the UK’s leading experts in retrofit.
It features seven eLearning modules with extensive, interactive teaching materials, and self-tests to check your understanding along the way.
Busting all the jargon, introducing key concepts like Fabric First and Whole House Retrofit.
Getting to grips with the different types of information and documents used in retrofit projects.
The Level 2 Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit is a flexible eLearning course that you can study at your own pace. The seven modules take around 21 hours to complete and you can either complete these over the course of three days or study at a pace that suits you, your lifestyle and commitments. Once enrolled, you will have six months to complete the course.
To help you with your eLearning, there are self-tests within each module to help check your understanding as you go. Following your eLearning, you will attend a one-day tutor-led session via Zoom. It is essential that you complete the eLearning before attending this session. This tutor-led day will conclude with a remotely invigilated end-of-course exam.
In order to access the eLearning materials and take the online exam, you must have access to a computer with a reliable internet connection. Learners who successfully pass the exam will receive a certificate for the Level 2 Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit from NOCN, an Ofqual-regulated Awarding Body.
You can complete the course over a three day period, followed by a one-day tutor-led session.
There no specific eligibility requirements, although if you have a background in energy efficiency or construction you may find the course a little easier. In order to access the eLearning materials and take the online exam you must have access to a computer with a reliable internet connection.
*Pay in three interest free monthly installments
If you are ready to enrol for the Level 2 Award simply click “Apply Now” below to start the process.
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This award is looking for the best large projects demonstrating energy savings, increased comfort and health outcomes.
This award recognises and rewards retrofit professionals who excel in retrofit coordination.
This award is looking for the individual assessor or company that has done the most to engage customers and drive the retrofit agenda.
This award is looking for the individual installer or company that has done the most to engage customers effectively and drive the retrofit agenda.
This award is looking for the best small projects demonstrating energy savings, increased comfort and health outcomes.
This award is looking for the best social landlord (housing association, local authority or ALMO) retrofit client of the year. This will be an organisation who has demonstrated their commitment to decarbonising their housing stock, improving residents’ health and life chances.
This award is looking for the newest individual to the sector that has made the greatest contribution to low carbon retrofit in the last 12 months (up to and including December 2021).
This award is looking for the individual that has done the most to promote the retrofit agenda to customers.
The judges will be looking for evidence of:
• Successful engagement with the general public leading to better-informed retrofit clients
• Successful marketing leading to increased uptake of retrofit
• Evidence of adopting PAS 2035 key principles and articulating these to potential customers
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To become a retrofit coordinator you need to have a qualification in a built environment subject that is at least Level 3 with a minimum of 12 credits (your credits should be detailed on your certificate). Level 3 qualifications are equivalent to an A Level certification. If you hold a university degree relevant to the built environment this would also meet the entry requirements for this course.
If you don’t hold a relevant Level 3 qualification or above you may be eligible to enroll in a pre-assessment with The Retrofit Academy to ensure you meet the academic standards required for the course. Failing this, you would need to attain the relevant qualifications.
Our fast-track learning option is ideal for quickly training your team, to get them ready to be able to work on retrofit projects within 4-6 months of accreditation. Using a bespoke mix of eLearning, bootcamps and seminars, this retrofit coordinator training can be designed to meet the needs of your business. As well as learning essential skills and knowledge, cohorts will benefit from networking with peers, and will gain a deeper understanding of energy efficiency and whole house retrofit.
This option is for self-organised learners but includes additional support from our expert tutors, and is backed up by an intensive two-day online bootcamp offering a comprehensive overview of the key learning objectives of the course.
Working in groups via Zoom, bootcamps are a great way for students to understand the fundamentals of Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management, and appreciate the importance of the coordinator role.
This option is designed for chartered professionals who are comfortable managing their own learning and wish to study at their own pace.
The course consists of 12 training modules assessed via a mix of multiple choice questions and written assignments; all accessed via our Online Learning Platform.
All teaching and assessment is completed online at the student’s convenience and you have 12 months in which to complete the course. Although no teacher-led lessons are involved, students will have support from an Online Mentor and Tech Support to ensure everything flows smoothly.
The new PAS 2035 standard works alongside the PAS 2030: 2019 standard, and introduces a set of criteria that must be met to ensure the consistent delivery of domestic retrofit in the UK.
It means that the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Local Authority Delivery Scheme (LADs), and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) sectors must fully comply with its specifications. Schemes such as the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) will also comply.
PAS 2035 represents a strong commitment to improving the energy efficiency of domestic buildings in the UK. It was designed in response to the UK government’s Each Home Counts Review, which was a comprehensive review of home energy efficiency. One major outcome of the review was the call for an industry-wide Code of Practice, which became PAS 2035.
The retrofit assessor’s role is to gather information about the building that is the subject of retrofit work. Domestic retrofit assessments are very wide-ranging and include factors such as the building’s construction, structure, and architectural features. The assessment will also consider the building’s current condition, including any structural defects, and issues such as leaks, condensation and mould buildup. Current installations such as heating and hot water, lighting, and ventilation will be documented. Any protected status, conservation restraints, or planning permission requirements will be investigated before work can begin.
The retrofit assessor must also take into account information regarding the number of building occupants and special considerations including the presence of vulnerable people, or people with disabilities.
One of the key roles emerging from PAS 2035 is the role of the retrofit coordinator. Retrofit coordinators ensure that all elements of domestic retrofit are properly managed and coordinated, and that a cohesive retrofit plan is designed and implemented. For more information on the role of the retrofit coordinator and how to gain the necessary training and certification, see our page on Retrofit Coordinator Training.
In order to become PAS 2030 certified your business will need to demonstrate that you use a PAS-compliant Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure you have the correct processes in place to deliver consistent customer satisfaction and retrofit implementation.
Your installers will need to have relevant qualifications and competencies; each team will require a qualified retrofit professional, and one member will need to hold an NVQ . PAS 2030 certification requires you have up-to-date health and safety certification, and you will also need to comply with PAS 2035 when assessing and designing retrofit plans.
A technical assessment of one of your energy efficiency installations will need to be carried out, and any compliance issues be addressed before you receive certification. An approved certification body like The Retrofit Academy will need to carry out the PAS 2030 assessment and certification.
PAS 2030: 2019 (which replaced PAS 2030: 2017) concerns the commissioning, installation, and handover of domestic retrofit projects.
PAS 2030: 2019 has been redeveloped to work alongside PAS 2035. Both documents should be seen as working together to create a single cohesive approach to domestic retrofit. Taken together, PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 lay down the steps all domestic retrofit projects should follow to gain compliance, and ensure consumer satisfaction in accordance with the recommendations of the Each Home Counts Review.
PAS 2035 is a specification for what is called ‘whole-house’ or ‘whole building’ retrofit; this is an approach to the installation of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) which takes into account the requirement of the entire building; both from a technical standpoint, and considering factors like occupancy comfort.
PAS 2035 is concerned with assessing domestic dwellings for energy retrofit. This involves identifying areas where improvements can be made and specifying and designing the relevant improvement measures. It is also concerned with the monitoring of domestic retrofit projects.
PAS 2035 is to be used in conjunction with PAS 2030: 2019, which sets out the standards required for installing EEMs.
PAS’ stands for ‘publicly available specification’, and the number ‘2035’ refers to the government’s target date to raise as many homes as possible to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C. The average EPC for housing in the UK is currently Band D.