The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies (NSAET) is now offering funding support for building services engineering (BSE) employers in environmental technologies, courtesy of SummitSkills and the Joint Investment Programme (JIP).
NSAET funding is available until July 2012 for installation training for the main technologies of solar thermal, solar photovoltaics, heat pumps, rainwater harvesting and recycling.

The funding will make training available at a reduced rate at certain Skills Academy hubs with installers only expected to pay £171.50. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first served basis.

Cathryn Hickey, from the Skills Academy, said: 'For the take-up of renewables to be wide-spread and successful the UK needs a trained workforce with the correct skills to give end-users confidence in alternatives to fossil fuels. The role of the Skills Academy is to raise standards in environmental technologies training, meeting legislative requirements, now and in the future. With locations nationwide making it accessible to most businesses, this additional funding should provide a further incentive for employers to use the Skills Academy's industry-leading facilities.

'Registration with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is becoming increasingly important for employers, as it enables householders looking to install environmental technologies to easily separate rogue traders from quality installers. Training through the Skills Academy meets the requirements of MCS now, plus any potential changes set to take-place with the introduction of the EU Training Directive next year - all courses are mapped against National Occupational Standards (NOS).'

The NSAET say that funding through the JIP should be welcome to businesses wishing to take advantage of the low carbon economy with 2011 having seen a business boom in the renewables sector.

Training is available through the following hubs: Bedford College, Blackburn College, Carlisle College, Central Sussex College, College of Northwest London, Hartlepool College, Liverpool Community College, Somerset College, Stephenson College and Stourbridge College. For more information and to contact the hubs, visit www.nsaet.org.uk