Mark Krull and Rishi Sunak

On the 16th April, MP for Richmond (Yorks), Rishi Sunak, visited LCL Awards' centre, GTEC.

Based in Hawes, North Yorkshire, Rishi visited constituent company, GTEC to find out about renewables training and the funding scheme set-up at the end of last year - the Renewable Heat Installer Training Support Scheme (RHITSS). RHITTS offers vouchers providing up to 70% off the cost of becoming a renewables installer. Mark Krull, Director for LCL Awards was also in attendance, along with other representatives from industry.

While at the centre, Rishi met with candidates to find out how training was helping them and reviewed the range of LCL Awards renewable qualifications available, including heat pumps, solar thermal with battery storage coming soon. Other industry representatives present included NAPIT, and the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), all of which GTEC have worked with to make the RHITSS scheme a success.

RHITTS was launched the end of last year after GTEC won a bid to provide heavily discounted training and certification to individuals and companies looking to upskill into heat-based renewables, backed by The Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through Midlands Energy Hub (MEH). There are currently 1,000 training places and 150 businesses signed-up to RHITSS – spaces that were filled within 10 days of the schemes launch. Vouchers can be used at GTEC and also other LCL Awards and BPEC approved centres throughout the UK.

Rishi Sunak. MP for Richmond (Yorks), said: “Despite Covid, and with the knowledge that there is a framework of national funding support introduced by government, GTEC has really seized an opportunity and are now a key player in the UK’s national strategy to achieve Net Zero.

“The RHITSS scheme has been a great success; GTEC has been able to pull together many different parts of the low carbon sector to deliver this ambitious programme very quickly. It’s been great to meet a local company playing their part in such an important national cause.

Griff Thomas. MD for GTEC, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Rishi and see his obvious enthusiasm for a low carbon future. We discussed the need for long-term and sustainable support to give to installers the confidence to invest in career development and the green agenda. The achievements of RHITSS is an example of what can happen when industry collaborates, thanks in particular to MEH which helped us get the scheme up and running in just three weeks.”

Mark Krull. Director for LCL Awards, said: “To ensure Net Zero is met, a long term and well defined plan is needed so that installers, manufacturers and training companies are able to warrant future investment. Recognised, high quality qualifications are key to this approach and the UK has an opportunity to lead in this field.”

For more information about GTEC, visit: www.gtec.co.uk

For more information about our renewables qualifications, click here.