The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies has linked up with awarding body, ABBE, to promote energy efficiency and low carbon skills.
Through the partnership, the organisations will explore joint qualification development, with a particular focus on helping businesses to gain accreditation for competences that fall outside existing qualification structures.

Executive director of the National Skills Academy, Cathryn Hickey, said: 'Employers have asked for our support with bespoke certification to meet their specific operational needs. Our work in this area will create more flexible systems for employers, allowing them to become accredited in disciplines directly relevant to their business.'

She continued: 'Through this partnership, we can bring our proven success in training material development, together with ABBE's assessment expertise, to become truly responsive to the industry in terms of new and emerging skills.'

ABBE is a specialist in disciplines such as energy assessment, surveying and installation of renewable technologies, and will also support the National Skills Academy by providing CPD and events for the Academy's network of colleges and training providers.

Director of operations for ABBE, Sarah Dunkerley, added: 'ABBE is delighted to have formed an official partnership with the National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies. As well as giving us an opportunity to offer our existing suite of qualifications to a broader audience, this arrangement will also enable ABBE to explore opportunities for providing a wider range of innovative qualifications in new and emerging environmental technologies and energy efficiency with and through the Academy's established network.'

In addition, the National Skills Academy will be launching a suite of Green Deal assessor qualifications this summer to support those who want to qualify in this area.

For more information visit www.nsaet.org.uk