Addressing the need for green skills in the construction industry, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has introduced a brand-new range of part-time courses.

The qualifications are designed to provide adults with the technical skills and capabilities needed to drive forward green technologies, helping the UK transition to net zero by 2050.

As homeowners and developers are increasingly looking for ways to become more energy efficient and move from fossil fuels to green technologies, the Group’s Level 3 Installation and Maintenance of Heat Pump Systems course aims to provide learners with the knowledge and skills to install and maintain heat pump systems.

For those already working in the construction industry, this three-day course will enable them to offer their customers an alternative to traditional ways of heating their homes.

With the construction and built environment sector moving into a new technological era, the Group’s one-day per week programme at Level 3 in the Fundamentals of Building Information Modelling (BIM) is ideal for those working in the industry who want to enhance their digital skills.

Learners can also gain the skills and knowledge needed to implement BIM within a construction company via the Group’s part-time course, which will be delivered one evening a week for five weeks. BIM involves creating and using intelligent 3D models to develop and communicate project decisions.

These are just a few examples of areas where higher-technical skills will be required to implement green technology within construction – demonstrating the vital role the sector will play in creating a greener economy and helping the UK meet its net zero target. Those working in the industry must seize this opportunity by expanding or enhancing their existing skillset to operate new and sustainable systems and processes - and these courses are designed to do exactly that.

Plumbers, builders and ground works engineers will also be able gain certification to install a range of domestic and commercial water reuse systems with the Group’s Level 3 Rainwater Harvesting & Greywater Recycling Systems qualification.

This two-day course, alongside the other programmes, will be delivered within Castleford College’s state-of-the-art construction facilities from September 2023.

These programmes are just a small part of the Education Group’s Green Skills offer, which also includes Electric and Hybrid vehicle courses from Level 1 to Level 4. Covering a variety of areas related to maintenance and repair of systems and components found in electric and hybrid vehicles, the courses are ideal for those aspiring to or currently working in this growing sector.

Intended to provide learners with the higher-technical skills and knowledge to operate this climate-saving technology, the Group’s Principles of Carbon Capture and Storage course covers a range of carbon separation processes including adsorption, heat recovery, heat exchangers, heat pumps and more.

The launch of the course comes following a successful pilot project with Drax Group which is developing the vital negative emission technology, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), at its power station near Selby.

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group is also currently working on developing an innovative Heat Recovery and Transfer programme, which is the first-of-its-kind in the Yorkshire & Humber Region.

As an organisation, we are placing environmental sustainability at the heart of what we do. We fully recognise the role we need to play in supporting the region’s aspirations and focus on sustainability measures, including reducing our carbon footprint and moving towards net zero. That is why we are developing a sustainable curriculum offer in line with the development of green skills for green jobs, ensuring that people across our communities are able to secure or upskill into a range of highly-sought after roles, helping to create a greener future for us all.”

To find out more about the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s Green Skills offer, please visit: