Helen Knowles, External Verifier and Technical Specialist for LCL Awards & Paul Matthews Academy Manager at LCX.

Kevin Childs and Andrew Milne, founders of new LCL Awards approved centre, Low Carbon Exchange, have been installing and servicing heat pumps, solar PV, solar thermal and MVHRs for the social housing sector, homeowners and private landlords in the South West of England and Middlesex, for the last 12 years.

With current demand for renewables higher than ever before, business has boomed and the pair decided they’d like to set up a training academy at their head office, outside Weston-Super-Mare, in order to train their own engineers as well as others in the area.

Helen Knowles, the EV and Technical Advisor, who saw the Low Carbon Exchange through the accreditation process, recently caught up with Kevin Childs, to see how things are going.

HK: How have things been going since you got the training centre up and running?

KC: It’s been very busy. We have just completed our first LCL accredited course for Safe Isolation, with one of our own engineers, Billy Gamon. Billy’s recently been through our induction process for new starters and it’s great to know that having achieved this LCL Awards qualification he’s now equipped to work safely as his career takes off with us.

HK: You were motivated to set up your own training centre to train your staff?

KC: Yes, our main aim was to train out own engineers, but we’re also keen to train and support local heating engineers and electricians – to help them move away from working with fossil fuels and concentrate on renewables.

It makes good sense to train our own engineers. That way we can be sure that everyone who works for us is trained to the highest standards – to offer our clients the best service. We hope to gain recognition for being the best in the business, so that when a renewables engineer is ‘LCX trained’ it’s recognised that they have had the best possible training available.

We want to provide trainees with a positive learning environment, somewhere they can try out the latest equipment and learn from trainers with a real interest in the latest technologies – be it heat pumps, solar panels, MVHR, solar thermal batteries and EV as well as innovation in future technology. We strongly believe in heat pumps and renewable technologies.

HK: How easy is it to attract engineers who’ve been working with gas and oil for many years?

KC: We’re doing all we can to encourage gas engineers - and also electricians - to come on board. Our training manager, Paul Matthews, has developed a special entry-level course called ‘Lunch and Learn’ that gives those who are new to renewables a four hour introduction to renewables – as well as lunch. Now we can also offer a number of LCL Awards’ certified qualifications, we’re ready to move our training initiative to the next level.

We’re keen to make Low Carbon Exchange a training centre of excellence; offering training facilities for a brighter, greener future. Spreading the word, our passion and enthusiasm can only help with that. We’re planning a number of open days to welcome everyone to the academy – so they can come and see what we have to offer.

HK: What’s the age range of your learners? Who do you cater for?

KC: The learners we’ve had on our courses so far have been a real mix, but I’d say that most of them are established engineers – they all have something in common, however: they’re all people looking to future-proof their careers. It’s been encouraging to see the enthusiasm they have for learning the new technologies and it’s exciting to see their minds and horizons expand.

At the moment there’s no apprenticeship in renewables, but with the skills gap growing, as we work towards a net zero transition, we can see a real need for one. Installation companies are struggling to recruit in this area and we are very pleased to be doing all we can to help plug the gap.

Now we are able to deliver the best training courses in our purpose built training centre we feel we are making a positive contribution to equip engineers with the skills they’ll need and in turn Britain work towards its decarbonisation targets.

HK: You’re already offering a good range of LCL Awards’ renewable qualifications, but what are your plans for the new step?

KC: Well, we’re looking at your battery storage and EV charging courses – and Part F ventilation courses next. We’d like to be able to cover all bases. The team at Low Carbon Exchange are full of passion and drive for the renewables sector.

We’re really pleased to have received LCL Awards accreditation. Being able to run your renewables courses is a great addition to help ensure the success of our new academy - and a low carbon future.

To find out more about Low Carbon Exchange and the LCL Awards qualifications they offer, please click here

To find out more about LCL Awards renewables qualificationgos please click here.