Potential sources of funding

Helping you access high‑quality training in low‑energy building and retrofit

Whether you’re changing career, upskilling for your current role, or building specialist knowledge in low‑energy building, we’d like AECB training to be as accessible as possible.

This page summarises the main funding routes that may help you pay for your course, depending on your circumstances.

UK Wide

Adult Green Skills Funding for Individuals

 

Across the UK, local authorities and city councils are keen to encourage the growth of green skills and may be offering support for both employed individuals looking to upskill or re-skill and unemployed residents seeking training and new qualifications which contribute to a greener future.

For example, Aberdeen City Council have fully funded a learner, who applied to their Green Skills Individual Training Fund, to join our Whole Life Carbon Assessment course. As part of the application, the learner was asked to describe how the training would help them.

 

Below are some pointers on where to look, who to contact, and how to check what support is available in your area:

Across the UK, many councils and combined authorities run adult skills programmes that include green‑skills training such as:

  • retrofit
  • heat pumps
  • energy efficiency
  • construction decarbonisation
  • sustainability and net‑zero skills

 

These programmes are often funded through:

  • Adult Education Budget (AEB)
  • Adult Skills Fund (ASF)
  • UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)
  • Local climate‑action or retrofit programmes

 

How to check your area

Search for:

Your council name + green skills training”
Your council name + adult skills”
Your council name + retrofit training”
Your council name + employability programme”

Look for pages related to:

  • adult learning
  • employability
  • net‑zero or climate action
  • construction skills
  • local training funds

 

If you live in a Mayoral Combined Authority (e.g., Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire), you are more likely to find dedicated green‑skills funding because these areas control their own adult skills budgets.

Most likely areas to offer adult green‑skills funding:

(based on devolved AEB powers to control their own funding budgets)

  1. Greater London Authority
  2. Greater Manchester Combined Authority
  3. Liverpool City Region
  4. West Midlands Combined Authority
  5. West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  6. South Yorkshire Combined Authority
  7. Tees Valley Combined Authority
  8. Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority
  9. North of Tyne Combined Authority
  10. West of England Combined Authority

Many councils run employability services that include fully funded or part‑funded training for people who are:

  • unemployed
  • changing career
  • on a low income
  • looking to enter a green job

 

Examples include:

 

These programmes can fund:

  • short courses (e.g. our Understanding Building Physics course, PHPP course and WLC Assessment course)
  • accredited training (e.g. our route to a Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Assessment)
  • sector‑specific green skills
  • retraining for net‑zero careers

Many employers now fund training as part of their:

  • net‑zero commitments
  • ESG strategies
  • workforce development plans
  • retrofit or decarbonisation programmes
  • becoming a ‘Carbon Literate’ organisation under the United Nations recognised Carbon Literacy Project

 

Particularly if you work in:

  • housing
  • construction
  • building services
  • local government
  • consultancy
  • MMC/off‑site manufacturing

 

…your employer may be able to cover some or all of your AECB training.

Take a look at our range of courses to see what knowledge and skills they can help contribute to your work and projects.

If you would like any help with providing your employer with relevant information about how our courses can be helpful, please do get in touch: [email protected]

Our route to a Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Assessment can qualify for CITB funding via our training partner Synergy Training Centre (STC). This course includes:

  • Stage 1 – Online, self-directed training course with the AECB (with up to a year in which to complete the course)
  • Stage 2 – Level 5 formal assessments and live tutorials with STC

 

Our training partner Synergy Training Centre are an approved training provider with the CITB – Employers who are CITB levy payers can apply for CITB funding. Please check their website for further information.

Apply for the Level 5 Diploma course via STC

Regional funding schemes...

England

Available to the whole of England and those who complete the majority of their work in England.

A selection of AECB courses were partially funded by the WHSP during the 2025-26 round of funding and it was a huge success!

We’re awaiting news of whether a further round of funding will be made available for 2026-27. If so, the funding would become available from the end of August, and we’ll let our network know.

Are you based in the West of England (Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire)?

As demand for energy-efficient home improvements continues to grow, Retrofit West is helping local construction professionals and tradespeople develop the skills needed to succeed in the retrofit sector.

If you live or work within the West of England Combined Authority area, you could be eligible for a Green Construction Training Grant of up to £1,000 towards training in retrofit, sustainable construction and low-carbon technologies.

The programme is designed to help construction professionals, builders and tradespeople upskill, futureproof their businesses and take advantage of new opportunities in the growing green economy.

If you or your company are interested in taking AECB training to enhance your knowledge, skillset and client confidence in your approach to sustainable, well informed and well planned, building design and retrofit, that avoids unintended consequences and performance gaps, your AECB training could be up to 100% grant funded!

 

Whether you’re looking to expand and enhance your existing services or begin your journey into domestic retrofit, this funding can help you gain the skills and qualifications needed to stay ahead in a rapidly growing market.

To register your interest, complete the Retrofit Training Grant Application Form.

 

What’s on offer through Retrofit West?

  • Up to £1,000 towards AECB and other accredited training in retrofit, low-carbon technologies and PAS standards.
  • Flexible training options – choose the course that best fills your skills gap or supports your move into the retrofit market.
  • Access to a growing retrofit network, with opportunities to attend industry events, training and connect with other professionals.
  • Become a Retrofit Champion – funded participants may be invited to share their experience through case studies and short interviews, helping to inspire other businesses across the region.

 

If you provide retrofit services (including architecture practices), you can apply to be listed in the Retrofit West Trusted Trades Directory, where homeowners can search for retrofit professionals who meet standards for quality and reliability. Being a member of the AECB is an accreditation that helps you towards meeting these standards.

Wales

The Personal Learning Account programme is a great way to access part-time study on specific courses alongside your current employment.

  • For those over 19 and living in Wales
  • Earning under *£34,303 a year
  • Looking to develop a career in a priority sector.

*There is no earning cap of £34,303 on approved courses or qualifications in digital or green skills.

For further information about Wales Personal Learning Accounts take a look at the Careers Wales site here: https://careerswales.gov.wales/courses-and-training/funding-your-studies/personal-learning-accounts

Our route to a Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Assessment course has qualified for this funding scheme via our training partner Synergy Training Centre (STC) This course includes:

  • Stage 1 – Online, self-directed training course with the AECB (with up to a year in which to complete the course)
  • Stage 2 – Level 5 formal assessments and live tutorials with STC

 

Apply via STC here: https://synergytrainingcentre.co.uk/retrofit-coordinator

ReAct+ offers tailored support to those trying to re-enter the labour market by removing barriers and providing grant support for vocational training, travel costs and care (including childcare) related to training.

To be eligible you must live in Wales (and have the right to work in the UK) and meet one of the following criteria:

  • Aged 20 or over and under formal notice of redundancy or
  • Aged 20 or over and your job has been made redundant in the last 6 months or
  • Aged 20 or over and are an ex-offender or an offender serving a community sentence

 

For further information take a look at the Working Wales site here: https://workingwales.gov.wales/how-we-can-help/react-plus

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