UK chancellor Rishi Sunak has visited renewables training provider GTEC in Yorkshire and discussed creating the ‘green’ installers needed to meet carbon reduction targets.
At the end of last year, GTEC won a bid to provide heavily discounted training and certification to individuals and companies looking to upskill into heat-based renewables, backed by The Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through Midlands Energy Hub (MEH).
Named the Renewable Heat Installer Training & Support Scheme (RHITSS), the scheme offers vouchers which provide up to 70% off the cost of becoming a renewables installer.
There are currently 1,000 training places and 150 businesses signed-up to RHITSS, with spaces filled within 10 days of the scheme’s launch. Vouchers can be used at GTEC and also other LCL Awards and BPEC approved centres throughout the UK.
While at the centre, the chancellor met with candidates and reviewed the range of renewable technologies available at GTEC including heat pumps, solar thermal with battery storage.
His visit coincided with confirmation that the RHITSS scheme has had its deadline extended to 30th September 2021, in recognition of the difficulties that some candidates have had in securing a place due to COVID restrictions.