£1m investment in ‘green academy’ to train future workforce
A first-of-its-kind ‘green academy’ will be opened by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram today (June 28).
HybridTec is making a £1m investment into upskilling tradespeople in the latest sustainable technologies and preparing a future workforce in line with the Government’s mission of reducing carbon emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.
Its new green academy, based in a newly-refurbished floor at HybridTec’s existing Aintree headquarters, will welcome 140 apprentices and more than 1,000 experienced heating engineers looking to upskill in the latest green technologies in the first year alone, including air source and ground source heat pumps, solar thermal hot water, and underfloor heating.
The 27,000 sq ft the green academy gives apprentices of all ages – including those starting out in the industry or those looking to upskill – the opportunity to join its advanced apprenticeship training schemes, which will prioritise the development of green skills for more sustainable jobs.
The green academy will also be vital to ensuring a smooth transition to a more environmentally-friendly economy, helping workplaces meet the demand for green skilled workers, and adding to the 680 businesses HybridTec has already serviced with fully qualified apprentices throughout the past 12 months.
HybridTec managing director, Sophie Gilmore, said: “We are firmly aligned with the ambitions of Mayor Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in leading the way to achieving net zero by 2040, and I am extremely proud that our innovative new green academy will contribute to the vital upskilling of tradespeople in the latest sustainable technologies across the region. The green academy demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the net zero agenda – and will prepare a future workforce for careers in the green economy, ensuring no one in our industry is left behind.”
Steve Rotheram said: “If trains, docks and canals made our area a leader in the First Industrial Revolution, then I believe our world-leading strengths and natural assets in wind, tidal and hydrogen can make us a leader in the Green Industrial Revolution – and I want to ensure we’re in the best position to attract the many thousands of green jobs and training opportunities it will bring.”
Alan Wilcox, mature heating engineer at HybridTec, aged 66, attended HybridTec to upskill in the new green tech. He said: “When I was training as an engineer, it was different. We never stop learning, no matter how old you are – there’s always new things like this new low carbon heating technology, which is great.”
Oliver Rudd, aged 19, apprentice at HybridTec, said: “Learning and working alongside older peers has definitely had a positive impact on me. They share their industry knowledge and experience.”
