Project professional skills in domestic retrofit

Guidance on the opportunities for project professionals in the domestic retrofit sector.

WECA Retrofit West Draycott Road Building Energy Experts visit. August 2024.

A variety of skills are important to retrofitting domestic buildings. This guide offers information on entry routes into retrofit careers as well information on how experienced professionals in the industry can broaden their career with further training in retrofit.

The demand for retrofit

The Retrofit Standards Framework has helped to embed best practice guidance for implementing high quality retrofit projects. As a result, a number of professional retrofit roles have been introduced that focus on ensuring quality is delivered throughout project delivery.

This includes a variety of roles, such as retrofit co-ordinators, advisors, designers and domestic energy assessors who are significant throughout the retrofit process, from assessment to installation. With at least 58% of the 500,000 homes in the West of England needing to become more energy efficient to meet our net zero emission targets, this provides scope for a huge range of retrofit projects that will need overseen, supervised and managed to ensure they are delivered successfully from start to finish.

Clara From Retrofit West chats with a homeowner about what measures they might want to make at their home. March 2025.
Construction to retrofit pathways

Entry routes into the industry

The new Low-Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship offers training to directly enter the retrofit industry:

Course: Level 3 Low-Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship

Length: Usually 3-4 years

Eligibility: Individual employers will set their own entry requirements, but this will typically include English and Maths at GCSE Grade C or above. Apprentices without English or Maths Level 2 must achieve this by the end-point assessment of the course.

Further Opportunities: Employment, higher apprenticeship, or expand into further areas of retrofit skills training.

 

Our Skills Connect pages can help you to learn more about apprenticeships.

Colleges offer a variety of training options in retrofit. Courses can last for weeks or months, and either full-time or part-time. Short courses are a way of exploring a new career in retrofit or to learn new skills around other commitments. For example:

Course: Retrofit 101 (online)

Length: 2 hours

Eligibility: Open to everyone and free.

 

Formal courses are available in retrofit where you can gain both knowledge and practical experience relevant for projects. For example:

Course: Retrofit Skills Level 2

Length: 6 weeks

Eligibility: 19+ with experience of working in the construction industry for a year or more. Subsidised places available.

Further Opportunities: Learners who successfully complete will be able to become an Approved Partner in Retrofit West's professionals directory and forum, allowing direct access to homeowners seeking retrofit.

Gaining work experience or engaging in paid employment provides valuable opportunities to shadow skilled professionals and assist them with daily tasks.

Further opportunities for experienced workers: Your employer may support you to train to become fully qualified through an apprenticeship (see above). Formalising your work experience with industry-recognised qualifications can both broaden employment prospects and increase further training opportunities.

Construction to retrofit pathways

Further training in retrofit

There are a variety of courses designed to teach the basic principles of retrofit. These types of courses can also help identify further areas of interest in retrofit. Some examples are:

 

Informal Training:

Course: Retrofit 101 (online)

Length: 2 hours

Eligibility: Open to everyone and free.

 

Formal Training:

Course: Level 2 Award Understanding Domestic Retrofit (online)

Length: 30hours (self-paced)

Eligibility: Open to everyone.

 

You can view a range of training providers offering retrofit courses in our Skills Connect directory.

Learn how to conduct home Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) as a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor.  All offer opportunities to enter the industry or add another skill to add to your existing work. Here are some example courses:

 

Example Domestic Energy Assessor course:

Course: Level 3 Award in Domestic Energy Assessment

Length: Days-Weeks depending on the course

Eligibility:  No previous qualifications or experience required

Further Opportunities: As an Energy Assessor you can go on to become a Retrofit Assessor (see next section 'Retrofit - New Roles) or become qualified in assess heritage buildings (see next section below)

 

Further assessment-related courses offer training in how to survey and assess a building, calculate the heat loss, and specify the design requirements of a heat pump installation.

Course: ABBE Level 3 Certificate in Surveying and Calculation of Building Heat Loss

Length: 3 days (online)

Eligibility: None (aimed towards Domestic Energy Assessors)

 

You can view a range of training providers offering courses in Energy Efficiency in our Skills Connect Directory.

With a quarter of the UK retrofit housing market considered old and traditional buildings, this course enables you to expand your energy assessment services to these older buildings:

Course: Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency for Older and Traditional Buildings

Length: Usually  2 days (online)

Eligibility: Working within an energy assessment role

View a range of training providers offering retrofit training in all these areas and more in the Skills Connect Directory.

New job roles have been developed to support the retrofitting process, along with specific training requirements. Note many of these courses are partially or fully funded. Below are the job roles and examples of relevant training:

Retrofit Assessor Role

Completing property surveys to improve energy efficiency.

Training: Skills Bootcamps - Level 4 Award in Domestic Retrofit Assessment

Length: Usually 60 hours across 10 weeks (online)

Eligibility: Level 3 Domestic Energy Assessor qualification (if you do not have this already there are combined courses available).

 

Retrofit Advisor Role

Providing independent advice to residents on how to retrofit their home.

Training: Level 3 Certificate in Domestic Retrofit Advice

Length: 30 hours (online)

Eligibility: 18+ years

 

Retrofit Coordinator Role

Retrofit Coordinators manage retrofit projects including procurement, specification, and delivery.

Training: Skills Bootcamp - Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management

Length: 103 hours across 13 weeks

Eligibility: A Level 3 qualification in the built environment

View a range of training providers offering retrofit training in all these areas and more in the Skills Connect Directory.

Find out more about accessing green construction training grants by visiting Retrofit West

Career pathways map

Discover our downloadable retrofit career pathway maps, which outline the various construction and retrofit courses and qualifications, from entry-level to progression routes for those looking to develop their existing skills.

This resource has been designed primarily for Skills Providers, to help support others looking to develop their careers

Download the retrofit professional pathway map (pdf, 1mb)

Job profiles

Retrofit Coordinator
  • Specialist Skills: Risk Management, Project Management, Auditing, Building Controls, Construction
  • Retrofit Coordinators can work for themselves or be employed by a company
  • Soft Skills: Management, Coordinating, Communicating, Detail-oriented, Presentation
  • Commonly advertised salary: £43K
Domestic Energy Assessor
  • Specialist Skills: Thermography, Site assessment, Energy modelling, Performance reporting
  • Domestic Energy Assessors can work for a company or existing trade workers could offer energy assessments as an additional service.
  • Soft Skills: Communication, Detail-oriented, Self-motivated, Positivity, Coordinating
  • Salary range: £18-35K

Finding Support

Professional organisations offer industry specific support, such as career advice, training, membership schemes, and networking opportunities, as well as support with industry regulations or developments. Here are some organisations relating to the construction industry and retrofit:  

 

RetrofitWest are the local service set up to support the development and growth of the retrofit market in the West of England. They offer advice and guidance, events, networking, fully and partially funded courses, as well as a directory of local retrofit professionals to link customers and suppliers together.

National Retrofit Hub are a nonprofit organisation bringing together those involved in retrofit, they provide evidence-based insights, events and webinars to help inform retrofit projects.

RISE (Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise) are a free service funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) providing training, guidance and support to help social housing providers, local authorities and supply chains to deliver domestic retrofit programmes.

Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) are the national training board for the construction industry. As well as course and apprenticeship information they offer lots of different grant schemes.

Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education offer a detailed interactive map of courses at different levels of study.

Royal Institute of British Architects is a global professional membership body driving excellence in architecture, setting standards both in the education of architecture students and the continuing professional development of architects. Their website includes information about training, jobs and bursaries.

 

Training Grants

Retrofit West are offering Green Construction Training Grants to help traditional construction and trade businesses to upskill and enter the retrofit market with confidence. The grants are for electricians, plumbers and general builders and cover courses such as solar PV, heat pumps, insulation and ventilation.

Pathways

Explore further pathways into domestic retrofit

Explore some of the other career pathways in domestic retrofit, for new starters or experienced professionals looking to train up.

1 Plumbing pathways Explore retrofit careers for plumbing and heating skills.
2 Electrical pathways Explore retrofit careers for electrical skills.
3 Construction pathways Explore retrofit careers for construction skills.
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