Getting into retrofit series #1

Your guide to roles within retrofit

Welcome to the Simply R&R getting into retrofit series! 

The world of retrofit can be confusing and convoluted, so our ‘Getting into Retrofit’ blog series is designed to demystify the world of retrofit and renewables and help you decide what role might be best for you. 

Ever wondered how to get into retrofit and what qualifications and training you might need? Read on for our quick guide on getting into retrofit.

What is retrofit? 

Retrofit is the term used to describe any energy-efficiency measures that are fitted into existing buildings retrospectively, to bring them up to a better EPC rating, as part of the UK government’s commitment to carbon net zero. 

By 2050, all residential and commercial buildings need to be EPC rating of C and above and as such the opportunity for people trained in retrofit is massive. There is currently a huge shortfall of people who are sufficiently trained in the assessment, installation and maintenance of energy-efficient measures.

Getting into retrofit – understanding qualifications and competency 

Retrofit careers are split into six distinct roles, retrofit coordinators, retrofit assessors, retrofit designers, retrofit installers, retrofit advisors and retrofit evaluators. 

Some of these roles have mandatory qualifications that you must hold, some require only competency e.g. you can train in this field but you don’t necessarily need to hold a qualification. 

Here at Simply Learning we offer a range of training courses and qualifications that have been designed to ensure that you have the best possible training to step into any of these roles. 

Our handy guide will explain all of the roles within retrofit and hopefully help you choose which is right for you.

Getting into retrofit – what type of work do you want to do? 

The first question we usually ask is are you more interested in physically doing the retrofit work or the assessment, paperwork and management side of things? 

If you are interested in doing the work, then retrofit installation is more your bag. If you want to be involved in the strategic side of retrofit, then read on about advisory, assessor, design or coordination roles.

Getting into retrofit – starting from scratch

If you don’t have any retrofit qualifications currently and are starting from scratch, then a first step is to complete your Domestic Energy Assessor qualification. If you have no prior knowledge of the built environment (e.g. you are undergoing a full career change), then we would recommend doing an introduction to energy efficiency & assessment, before completing your Domestic Energy Assessor level 3 (mandatory).  

The Domestic Energy Assessor 

A Domestic Energy Assessor deals with assessing the energy rating (EPC) of a building. 

DEA’s traditionally work with estate agents to generate the legally required certificate for sale or rental, but increasingly DEAs are realising the potential of progressing on to the Retrofit Assessor Qualification, as this provides an opportunity to upskill, and opens more opportunities to market.

The DEA Level 3 qualification is the entry level requirement, to advance on to the PAS 2035 Retrofit Assessor Qualification, which we find is why most people get the qualification. 

Qualifications

The great news is that there are no entry level requirements for this qualification, although it is advantageous to have some knowledge of property types, building fabric and energy consumption.

ABBE Level 3 Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA)

Skills/Experience 

Passion for starting a career in energy efficiency and carbon reduction

Want to achieve the Retrofit Assessor qualification which is the follow- on qualification from DEA.

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The Retrofit Assessor 

This role involves carrying out a detailed assessment of a property to evaluate its energy-efficiency. This includes assessments on the current insulation value, heating and ventilation, along with the external and internal profile. 

This role is a natural progression for people who hold the Domestic Energy Assessor qualification. 

The Retrofit Assessor is a competent certified role, meaning that you can hold the DEA and add competency training to top up to a Retrofit Assessor. We provide DEA with the relevant upskill needed to fulfil this role- which is a much more practical application of knowledge than a qualification. 

Qualifications: 

ABBE Domestic Energy Assessor with Retrofit Assessor Upskill

L3 Energy Efficiency Measures in Older and Traditional Buildings

Skills: 

Understanding of insulation, heating and ventilation. 

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The Retrofit Advisor

A Retrofit Advisor is usually the point of contact for the homeowner. This is a competent not qualified role, ensuring that the retrofit plans for a building are accurate and up to date with regulations. The retrofit advisor acts as the face of the retrofit project to provide advice and guidance. 

This is a common role in social housing organisations, supporting residents through the process. 

Qualifications: 

L2 Understanding Domestic Retrofit- entry level 

Level 2 Retrofit Advice 

L3 Energy Efficiency Measures in Older and Traditional Buildings 

Skills: 

Customer service, problem-solving.

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The Retrofit Coordinator 

A retrofit coordinator acts as a project manager for the whole project to ensure that PAS2035 is met (PAS is the Publicly Available Specification for energy-efficiency retrofit of buildings). All installations delivered under government funded schemes MUST be overseen by a retrofit coordinator. 

A retrofit coordinator typically has experience in the built environment and will have good understanding of project management, buildings, technical knowledge and a passion for compliance. There is a LOT of responsibility that comes with this role, so we highly recommend that people only consider this career if they have a background in site management. 

Qualifications: 

Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management or 12 credits from a  level 5 qualification.  

Skills/experience: 

Built environment background (ideally), knowledge of buildings, technical knowledge and an eye for compliance. 

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The Retrofit Designer 

This role creates a bespoke design for the retrofit of each property which includes product and system specifications across insulation, lighting and heating measures. This role can be fulfilled by a retrofit coordinator. 

Qualifications: 

Either a qualified retrofit coordinator, architect or building surveyor, usually with a CPD top up course in retrofit design. 

Courses we offer: 

L3 Energy Efficiency Measures in Older and Traditional Buildings 

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The Retrofit Installer 

There are over 30 energy-efficient measures under PAS2035 and eight renewable technologies under Flexi-Orb and MCS certification schemes. A retrofit design will include a mix of these. 

A retrofit installer organisation would have a range of tradespeople with multiple disciplines to be able to install the retrofit design to meet the requirements of the scheme they are certified to. However, sole traders may also have a specialism in one or two measures. In both cases, a retrofit installer should have a nationally recognised qualification to support the discipline that they install. 

Qualifications

Each certification body may have slightly different requirements for this, however, the most commonly recognised are: 

Insulation

NVQ level 2 3 in the relevant discipline 

Window, plumbing, electrical and gas measures: 

Other forms of competency are recognised such as Gas Safe and FENSA

Renewable technologies: 

Courses under awarding organisations such as LCL, solar PV, heat pumps. 

Courses we offer: 

L2 Understanding Domestic Retrofit- entry level 

L2 and L3 NVQ Insulation and Building Treatments- Installer 

LCL Air Source Heat Pump Installation- Installer 

LCL L3 Design, Installation, and Commissioning of Electrical Energy Storage Systems- Installer  – Coming Soon

LCL L3 in Small Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems and Electrical Energy Storage Systems- Installer  – Coming Soon