The Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Competition (HDSTC) Phase 1 & 2 aimed to further increase the number of trained installers and retrofit professionals in England, supporting the national drive toward Net Zero targets. 

Managed by the Midlands Net Zero Hub, the competition awarded £9.2m of grant funding to 18 training providers to deliver accredited training across England in Phase 1 which ran between 2022 and 2023. Following the success of the first phase, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero allocated an additional £8.85m of grant funding to 24 training providers for Phase 2, which was completed in August 2024. 

Training Packages

The delivery of the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Competition was organised across the following work packages, which were designed to address key areas of the retrofit supply chain:

Phase 1:

Work Package 1 – Retrofit Assessor and Coordinator

Training aligned with PAS 2035 standards for Retrofit Assessors and Retrofit Coordinators.

Work Package 2 – Insulation

Accredited training focused on National Occupational Standards for the installation of domestic insulation measures, including underfloor, loft, and wall insulation (both internal and external).

Work Package 3 – Heat Pumps

Training for the installation of air and ground source heat pumps, including system design, delivered to accredited standards.

Phase 2:

Work Package 1 – Retrofit Assessor and Coordinator

Training aligned with PAS 2035 standards for Retrofit Assessors and Retrofit Coordinators.

Work Package 2 – Insulation

Accredited training focused on National Occupational Standards for the installation of domestic insulation, including underfloor, loft, and wall insulation (both internal and external).

Upon completion, Phase 1 achieved over 8,600 retrofit qualifications. Phase 2 delivered more than 7,300, significantly expanding the national skills base required to meet the growing demand for energy efficiency installations.