en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) have jointly launched a new RMI (Retrofit) industry skills plan. The plan is advised by an industry consultation group involving the NFRC, which supports the plan's objectives.
RMI activities are crucial for upgrading over 30 million homes in the UK, with a market value of £40.7 billion. However, the sector has long suffered from low recognition of key skills, a lack of minimum competency standards, and intermittent government policies. NFRC members undertake a significant portion of RMI work, particularly in retrofit projects, where roofing work is increasingly common due to the installation of insulation, ventilation, and solar panels. Poor-quality retrofits risk damaging buildings and endangering occupants, making a skilled workforce essential for safe, large-scale retrofitting.
The plan sets three core objectives: funding based on new domestic retrofit research; enhancing the RMI retrofit workforce capacity; and streamlining training initiatives while establishing clear standards. The NFRC states that these objectives align with its ongoing efforts to clarify roofing competency requirements, expand training and continuing professional development (CPD) pathways, and drive industry professionalization.
The plan allocates £3.8 million for domestic retrofit and historic traditional buildings, funding strategies, projects, and interventions across various areas. As a member of the consultation group, the NFRC will participate in funding allocation decisions.
The plan is based on research commissioned by the CITB from the University of Oxford and Nottingham Trent University. The report, "Energy Retrofit, Repair, Maintenance, and Improvement of UK Homes: Towards a Sector Skills Strategy," proposes three guiding principles: deepening understanding of retrofit technology, market, institutional, and policy contexts; fostering collaboration within and beyond the training ecosystem, including decentralization and locally tailored approaches; and clarifying goals through a shared vision, involving career pathways, quality standards, and funding reform.
The report recommends that future funding prioritize coordination, capacity, and quality assurance, supported by independent assessment and certification.
Members are encouraged to read the full report and watch the summary video on the CITB website. If you have ideas to strengthen the UK's RMI skills landscape and believe the NFRC should seek funding through the industry skills plan, you can contact the NFRC via the email link provided in the original notice.
