SummitSkills takes employers’ views to the heart of Government microgeneration strategy

Taking the lead role in putting together part of the action plan focusing on the skills and knowledge that will be required, SummitSkills was able to draw on its bank of expertise gained by working closely day-to-day with employers and trade associations in the plumbing, electrotechnical, heating and ventilating, refrigeration and air conditioning industries. These are the people who will be responsible for installing environmental technologies.

Launched by the Climate Change Minister Greg Barker MP on the 22^nd June, the strategy for microgeneration and decentralised energy aims to give consumers access to the information and professional assistance they need to generate their own energy using renewable technologies, feeding the excess back into the supply system. Key to this will be ensuring that employers have access to the right skills and training they will need to meet demand.

Nigel Hollett, Head of Environmental Technologies at SummitSkills spoke at the launch of the strategy in London. “The recommendations outlined in the Government’s microgeneration strategy may define the skills required by those working in the BSE industries for years to come so it was very important that we were able to incorporate the views and experiences of employers as the plans were developed,” he said

“The building services engineering sector will play a major role in not only installing microgeneration technology, but also in helping consumers, communities and businesses become energy generators themselves.”

“It is the engineers in our industry who have the highest levels of interaction with consumers and as such will be the advocators of everyday energy technologies in households and workplaces. As Government commitment to microgeneration progressed, we recognised the importance of contributing on behalf of the sector and ensuring the action plan met the needs of the public while providing the guidance the sector needs.”