New report highlights urgent need to close the retrofit skills gap

An analysis of the progress made in retrofit skills development between 2023 and 2024 and what can be done to close the gap

The UK’s journey to decarbonise its homes faces a major challenge: a critical shortage of skilled workers. Gatsby Education, in collaboration with the Ashden Trust and the National Retrofit Hub, has released a groundbreaking report—Closing the Retrofit Skills Gap—highlighting key barriers and opportunities in retrofit training.

A growing demand, a limited workforce
Between 2023 and 2024, progress in retrofit training has been made, yet major obstacles remain:

1. A shortage of skilled tutors: Further Education (FE) colleges are expanding retrofit training but struggle to recruit experienced tutors.
2. Limited employer engagement: Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are unaware of training opportunities and hesitant to invest.
3. Lack of a national strategy: Without a clear government-backed retrofit plan, training providers and employers cannot confidently invest in future skills development.

What needs to change?
The report outlines promising approaches already taking shape, such as strategic partnerships between FE colleges, industry, and local government. However, without a national retrofit strategy, these efforts may fall short of what’s needed to meet the UK’s climate commitments.

A National Retrofit Strategy is Essential
To build a skilled workforce capable of retrofitting millions of homes for improved energy efficiency, we must align training, funding, and policy interventions. This includes:

• Expanding and supporting FE college retrofit training, including integrating retrofit skills into all construction courses
• Raising SME awareness and incentivising their participation
• Setting a higher bar for quality by mandating training for professionals working on retrofit schemes.

Download the report