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Leading construction training provider awarded funding to support home decarbonisation across the UK

A leading construction training provider has been awarded funding to deliver home decarbonisation training across the UK as part of the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Scheme (HDSTC).

Expedient Training has been named as a chosen provider to deliver training to support home decarbonisation ahead of net zero 2050.

The company, based in Jarrow is one of fifteen providers selected to deliver training courses and the only one based in the North East.

The company, which delivers qualifications, training and NVQ’s to low carbon installers across the UK has been awarded £586,000 funding to support installers operating across the various Department for Energy Security and Net Zero retrofit schemes.

The Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Competition (HDSTC) provides grant awards to a range of training organisations in England to increase the number of retrofit installers to help the UK Government hit its 2030 and 2050 decarbonisation targets.

Expedient Training was acquired by Simply Certification Ltd and UK National in 2023 to support the increase of qualified and competent people and organisations within the supply chain around Retrofit.

As part of the scheme, Expedient Training will deliver

  • NVQ Levels 2 and 3 in Building Treatments and Insulation,
  • Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Assessment,
  • Level 3 Certificate for Retrofit Assessors,
  • Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency for Older and Traditional Buildings and
  • Level 2 Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit.

Training will be delivered using a mix of online and practical training.

Expedient has already confirmed that they will be working with some of the UK’s major construction companies, which includes providing training support to Wates to upskill their employees and supply chain.

£8.85m of grant funding has been made available through the competition, facilitated by the Midlands Net Zero Hub, with an expected 8,000 courses delivered through this second phase of the competition.

Alexandra Gates, MD of Simply Certification and Expedient Training said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be named as a training provider for this vital decarbonisation fund. When we acquired Expedient Training we wanted to focus on increasing green skills across the region and beyond, supporting the UK’s net zero targets but also training the next generation of low carbon installers- and this fund is one step closer to achieving this.

The UK is on a mission to decarbonise, and this will support so many who wish to enter the industry for the first time or upskill in what is set to be a strong and solid career choice for many years to come. We are excited to get started and hope this is the start of many wins for us.”

Ben Williams Head of Zero Carbon Retrofit of Wates states:

“We have enjoyed the support of Simply Certification over this last two years to help us increase our supply chain capacity around energy efficiency retrofit. The fact that they have extended their offering further into training by acquiring Expedient Training and then gone on to be successful in this bid is great news for the industry.

The need for more competent and qualified installers and retrofit professionals is growing dramatically. The end-to-end services that Simply are now delivering through training and certification will certainly help us to achieve this.”

Training courses through Expedient Training are due to launch end of October 2023 and run until March 2023.

Register your interest today.

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Kier Places chose Simply for PAS 2030

NATIONAL HOUSING & FACILITIES MANAGEMENT PROVIDER

Kier Places is part of Kier Group and provides a full range of property management services to clients in and around homes and workplaces across the UK. Clients include local authorities, social housing providers and blue light organisations.

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

Kier Places engaged Simply Certification to support with their PAS 2030 certification and Trustmark registration.

PAS 2030 is recognised energy efficiency installation standard for residential homes, ensuring that all energy efficiency measures such as insulation, heating controls and electric storage heating are compliant.

Trustmark, which can be certified at the same time, is the government-recognised quality standard of installation, giving residents peace of mind that the installation is of high-quality and is backed by quality assurances.

THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS

The certification process required a full assessment which included Kier Places demonstrating that all installers were trained and qualified, that they had a good understanding of the PAS 2030 standard and there were procedures and processes in place to meet that standard.

In addition to the initial assessment, Kier Places will be re-assessed continually on a percentage of their installations.

TIMELINE

The timeline for certification is on average 4-6 weeks for most organisations.

From the date of the first head office inspection, Kier Places were certified within six days.

This was due a well-planned and smooth assessment programme as Kier had all the relevant documentation and competencies in place.

BENEFITS TO KIER PLACES

  • Accessing work: the Government and the larger energy providers are working towards an objective to ensure all existing properties are energy efficient by 2030.
  • Future-proofing: contracts and funding schemes around the retrofit of energy efficiency measures in buildings are starting to stipulate that installers need to work to PAS 2030 certification.
  • Commitment to sustainability: Kier Places was able to further consolidate its position as a sustainability-focused and quality installer to the residential market.
  • Quality standards: the certification ensures that all installations are carried out to the same standards by any Kier Places representative and that ultimately, the installation reduces carbon.
  • Environmental impact: the installations reduce carbon, meaning lower environmental impact and warmer residents

 

“Because Simply Certification offer both PAS 2030 certification and Trustmark registration at the same time, we were able to streamline the certification process, saving time and ultimately resource. These certifications increase our ability to bid for work and in turn they facilitate the installation of energy efficiency measures which contribute to carbon reduction across the country.

Certification proves that we have the competence and internal skills to deliver these measures and ensures that anyone who works for us in retrofit, energy efficiency or carbon reduction within our residential team will be trained to an exceptional standard.

The Team at Simply Certification were excellent. They were really responsive and helpful, ensuring that we were fully prepared, making for a smooth assessment process. The team have exceeded our expectations and because of that, we are working with them to ensure our whole supply chain is compliant.”

David Rowe, Technical Director at Kier Places

The Great British Insulation Scheme

What is The Great British Insulation Scheme?

Designed to be complementary to the current ECO scheme, which is known as ECO4, The Great British Insulation Scheme (previously known as ECO Plus) has an anticipated spend of £1 Billion and improve 300,000 homes.

It is designed to deliver improvements to the least energy-efficient dwellings in Great Britain to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce energy bills.

This scheme will mostly deliver single insulation measures.

Which areas does it cover?

The scheme will operated across Great Britain.

Which standards and measures will The Great British Insulation Scheme cover?

The Government have decided that all measures must be delivered under PAS 2035 (meaning installers will need PAS 2030) including the simpler measures:

  • B1 Cavity wall insulation (including party walls)
  • B4 and B8 Solid wall insulation (both external and internal)
  • B5 Flat roof insulation
  • B6 Under floor insulation/Solid floor insulation
  • B9 Loft insulation
  • B10 Pitched roof insulation
  • B12 Room-in-roof insulation
  • B13 Park home insulation

When will it run?

The scheme will launch by Summer 2023 and run until March 2026.

What are the benefits to households?

The government believe the scheme will save households around £310 a year.

Who will qualify?

As well as supporting low-income and vulnerable households, it will also be available to those living in homes with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D-G, and within Council Tax bands A-D in England and A-E in Scotland and Wales.

How do I gain the right certification so I can operate under this scheme?

As an installer you will need to install under PAS 2035 – which means you will need PAS 2030. Contact our team today to find out more.

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Valley Group gain PAS 2030 and TrustMark

SCOTTISH BUILDING COMPLIANCE & FACILITIES MANAGEMENT PROVIDER

Valley Group are a building compliance and facilities management company headquartered in Glasgow, with 6 divisions including a specialist energy-efficiency arm dedicated to warmer homes.

As the business has grown across Scotland, there has been a need to ensure that the quality of installation standards remains high, which is why they engaged Simply Certification to gain PAS2030 certification.

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

Valley Group engaged Simply Certification to support with their PAS2030 certification and Trustmark registration as a high percentage of their work comes through public sector housing schemes and has to be Trustmark registered.

Valley Group is dedicated to its own sustainability initiatives and is committed to training and developing its people as a way to future-proof its business. The business places huge emphasis on training and keeping people safe, which is why PAS 2030 was such an important business strategy for them.

Valley Group recognise that safe operating procedures and efficient installations reduce waste and ensure consistency of service, increasing client and end-user satisfaction and saving everyone time and money.

THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS

Valley Group had worked with Simply Certification previously, but the relationship was continued with a new contact in the business.

The certification process included a head office assessment which was focused around checking that processes and procedures were meeting the standard. This was followed by multiple technical inspections to ensure that the processes and procedures were being met in a live environment.

BENEFITS TO VALLEY GROUP

  • Business development: the certifications allow Valley Group to compete for public sector contracts.
  • Training and development: the next generation of operatives are all trained to the quality standards set out by PAS 2030 and Trustmark.
  • Recruitment and talent attraction: holding the certification ensures that Valley Group attract, train and retain people who have pride in what they do and work to a high standard.
  • Reputation: the standards that Valley Group work to ensure that clients and their end users are happy.

 

“Simply Certification really offered me peace of mind. I have over 20 accreditations and memberships to uphold and Simply got that – everything was communicated well. It’s important to me to pick up the phone and be able to achieve something, not just get passed around or having to repeat myself.

Having one point of contact at Simply really meant I could get things done and keep the business moving. This was a new standard to me and the team were supportive- they understood my business and its stakeholders.

This certification is not just about continuous improvement, it helps us secure grants, work with energy providers and build relationships that we simply couldn’t without it.”

Frazer Lowrie, HSQE Manager at Valley Group

Six mighty good reasons to gain MCS, PAS 2030 and TrustMark

The need for more PAS 2030 certified and TrustMark registered contractors is growing rapidly.

With a target for the UK to reach Net Zero by 2050 one of the key requirements is to address the issue of poor energy efficiency performance in homes.

The link to soaring energy prices, unhealthy homes due to damp and mould and a cost of living crisis is also driving more landlords and home owners to invest into the retrofit of their properties with insulation measures and renewable technologies.

24 Million Homes and Six Funding Schemes

There is an estimated 24 million domestic properties and currently six funding schemes that need contractors that have the relevant certification and proven competency.

So the opportunity is HUGE.

What are the funding schemes?

  1. Green Rewards – Brand new initiatives have been launched and there is likely to be more. This is non-government funding, aimed at the able to pay market; banks and building societies are releasing loans and cash back rewards to encourage home owners to retrofit their homes from TrustMark registered businesses.
  2. Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund – We have established relationships with primary contractors who have been successful in securing funding for SHDF. They have asked Simply Certification to introduce our clients once certified, as they are extending their supply chains to deliver larger schemes.
  3. ECO4 – Currently under the fourth wave The Energy Company Obligation is aimed at lower income homes that need multiple energy efficiency measures installed to help combat fuel poverty.
  4. ECO Plus – Get ready for the complementary scheme to ECO4 which is currently under consultation and due to start in the Spring.
  5. Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) – The HUG scheme is designed for the improvement of energy performance and heating systems for off gas grid homes in England.
  6. Local Authority Delivery (LAD) – Currently under the third phase LAD schemes are managed by local authorities to target low income homes in their area.

To qualify to deliver under these you will need to be a TrustMark registered business and hold the relevant certification for the measures or technologies that you install.

The future

We know the wider importance to stop homes damaging the planet.

We also know that homeowners and tenants are trying to reduce their spend on energy costs.

We know that properties that are poorly ventilated are causing damage to the health of the occupiers.

All of these reasons are forcing a serious and committed drive for change and a significant increase in the UK supply chain of certified installers.

If you are a contractor that delivers home improvements, then being part of this supply chain will not only future proof your business and open up opportunities but you will also be supporting a cause that will protect the most vulnerable as well as helping to achieve Net-Zero and protect our environment.

More information?

Contact our friendly team who will take you through the various options:

T: 0191 323 3960

E: hello@simplycertification.co.uk

 

 

Gain TrustMark Licence Plus with Simply

Simply Certification, providers of certification across the Lifecycle of the Built Environment are excited to announce that we now offer TrustMark Licence Plus.

Current schemes such as ECO4, LADs, HUG and SHDF require PAS 2030/35 certification and TrustMark registration; Licence Plus is designed for future schemes and the able to pay market which may not need the PAS 2035 element that PAS 2030 certification requires.

To operate within the Licence Plus scheme, Licence Plus contractors will need to be a TrustMark registered business and undergo assessments to ensure high quality installations that protect the customer.

Alex Gates, Simply Certification’s Managing Director explains;

“We’re excited to be one of the first certification bodies to offer this, as one of our key priorities is to help extend the supply chain to help meet the UK’s net-zero targets.”

“We’ve been working closely with a number of primary contractors and TrustMark on various initiatives to help drive up the numbers within the UK supply chain and are already starting to see an increase of new contractors into this sector, which is an amazing achievement.”

“Improving Energy Efficiency through quality retrofitting”

Simon Ayers, CEO, TrustMark explains,

“We are facing one of the biggest challenges around reducing energy consumption and making homes in the UK warmer, more comfortable and healthier to live in at a time when we have a cost of living crisis, coupled with a shortage of skilled trades. Improving energy efficiency through quality retrofitting is key to helping reduce this burden but it must be done by competent tradespeople working to measurable standards to ensure the result fits the need.

The demand for businesses has never been higher and will only continue to increase. This demand, coupled with the current skills shortage, means we have to look for broader solutions. We believe that the Licence Plus Scheme can be part of that solution, so it’s great to have Simply Certification on board, offering Licence Plus registration to their businesses.”

Certification across the Built Environment Lifecycle

Simply Certification who were launched in August 2020 are quickly becoming the certification body of choice for organisations who operate across the lifecycle of the built environment which includes 4 key stages:

  1. Pre Construction and Design
  2. Construction
  3. Operations, Facilities Management and Retrofit
  4. End of Use

“We ensure a great assessment experience that adds real value”

Alex concludes;

“Our offering is extremely attractive to organisations who operate within any one of the stages of the Built Environment Lifecycle.

“Particularly those who are aligned with net-zero strategies. We have a strong focus on supporting organisations in their quality, environment and health and safety certifications. We have aligned our service to meet these needs which includes delivering assessments and certification for ISO and SSIP as well as TrustMark, PAS 2030, PAS 2038, Licence Plus and soon MCS.

Our unique offering is that we can coordinate assessment plans that keep disruption to a minimum and ensure great value by having a collaborative approach.

We ensure a great assessment experience that adds real value and aids ongoing business improvement with plans that are integrated where possible – a great offering for a sector that requires to demonstrate such high degrees of compliance and certification”

For more information about TrustMark and Licence Plus, contact our team today:
0191 3233960
hello@simplycertification.co.uk

Saviour Energy PAS 2030 Case Study

PAS 2030 Case Study

The Need

Saviour Energy Solutions launched in 2014 and have been delivering the retrofit of energy efficiency measures under various funding schemes to help drive down fuel poverty.

Having gained PAS 2030:2017 around 5 years ago, Saviour continued on with their existing certification body.

As the business began to grow, they started to attract opportunities from a number of local authorities which required evidence of compliance to ISO 9001.

The Pain

After searching for an alternative certification body, they found Simply Certification who offered both PAS 2030 and ISO 9001.

Khawar Aziz , Saviour’s Director states;

“We were finding the lack of communication we were receiving from our provider at the time increasingly frustrating.

From the moment we got in touch with Simply we realised that this was a certification body that was much more in line with what we needed.

Not only did they offer management system certification they also offered PAS 2030.”

Khawar goes onto say;

“We were feeling let down with our other provider due to lack of responsiveness and compliance is vital to us so felt that we would also enlist the services of Simply for PAS 2030.”

The Outcome

“We have gained certification with Simply for PAS 2030 and the process was such a different experience to what we have had previously.

It was a nice experience working with Simply. Especially, Lyndsey whom I called and interacted during this whole process. She was always ready to help.

Communication is so important when providing a service such as certification and I felt that Simply excelled at this.

The assessments were invaluable to us by supporting with our continuous improvement and compliance.

We’re really looking forward to a continued relationship with Simply.”

Green Compliance

The need for “Green Compliance” has never been as urgent

With the price of fuel escalating and the urgency to address climate change compliance around green standards has never been in as much demand.

When we launched in 2020 it was our aim to be the certification body of choice within the wider construction sector, with a strong focus around standards that support the drive of decarbonisation and energy efficiency.

Not just a certificate

Gaining compliance and certification is not just about showcasing to stakeholders that your organisation is serious about green strategies – but a real opportunity to:

  • Perform better as an organisation
  • Be more efficient, increasing profit margins
  • Qualify for frameworks, funding and contracts

Which certification is right for your organisation?

 

Who needs this?

Most organisations that are responsible for their own energy use, such as office facilities, hospitals, retail and leisure parks, schools and universities, industrial and manufacturing plants.

What it is

The new ISO 50001 standard for energy management systems can help safeguard our future by making a positive difference in the here and now.

ISO 50001 provides a framework of requirements for organisations to:

  • Develop a policy for more efficient use of energy
  • Fix targets and objectives to meet the policy
  • Use data to better understand and make decisions about energy use
  • Measure the results
  • Review how well the policy works, and
  • Continually improve energy management

 

Who needs this?

Contractors who install insulation, windows, gas and electrical measures relating to making a building more energy efficient.

What it is

Contractors are moving quickly to gain PAS 2030 alongside TrustMark registration as more and more framework agreements and contracts are emerging stating the need to have certification for PAS 2030.

 

Who needs this?

Installers, designers, architects and principle contractors who are responsible for the design of the retrofit of energy efficiency measures in domestic buildings.

What it is

PAS 2035 is the requirement around the assessment and design of an energy efficiency retrofit installation. This is interlinked to PAS 2030.

 

Who needs this?

Designers, architects and principle contractors who are responsible for the design of the retrofit of energy efficiency measures in commercial buildings.

What it is

Published in 2021, PAS 2038 this is crucial in driving down the energy use in existing building stock. With commercial buildings being much more complex than domestic, this standard helps on the impact of energy use within hospitals, schools, retail parks, leisure facilities and office space via the retrofit of energy efficiency measures.

 

Who needs this?

Most organisations have an impact on the environment and ISO 14001 is suitable for a wide range of businesses.

What it is

ISO 14001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system (EMS). It provides a framework that an organisation can follow to help drive efficiencies across the business.

 

Who needs this?

Architects, designers, contractors and facilities management. It is quickly becoming a recognised standard across the globe for those in the built environment.

What it is

Working within ISO 19650 showcases that your organisation works towards best practice within a construction and facilities management program.

It also enables your business to reduce unnecessary costs through wasted resources and time, also having a positive impact on the environment.

Would you like to find out more?

Book in a free consultation call with us to find out more about our Green Compliance offering.

PAS 2030, getting it right to protect your business

“I’ll send you my documents and you check it and then I get certified, right?”

“Our installers are on a competent person’s scheme so don’t understand why PAS 2030 is needed”

“Why can’t I send photos of the installations for my technical inspections, they should do?”

These are frequent questions and statements that we hear regularly at Simply Certification when taking on new customers for PAS 2030.

The latest version of PAS 2030 along with PAS 2035 has been released to provide a more robust standard at an organisational level than its predecessors. The standard ensures best practice is followed throughout the installation journey which protects the owner/tenants of the property, public funding and ultimately ensures the building itself achieves the objective of becoming more energy efficient.

At Simply we work with our clients as their critical friend and provide a valuable assessment experience for PAS 2030 which will protect your business in the long run from claw backs and money lost through having to re-visit installations to put them right.

More than a certificate

We strongly believe that if you are paying for a third-party assessment to demonstrate you are compliant with any standard, the value is not just gaining a certificate. It is so much more.

Going through the process of gaining PAS 2030 certification should also help identify any areas of weakness that your business may have across its processes that could result in a high number of technical monitoring fails – that could ultimately cost your business tens of thousands in claw backs and remediation.

At a first glance, a light desktop check of documents, submitted photographs or a quick technical assessment may sound attractive in to gain certification quickly, but how would this really benefit your business?

Cutting corners to gain certification quickly, will actually be putting your business at risk.

Getting it right, saves you in the long run

Understanding the standard, ensuring you have the relevant framework and infrastructure in place and demonstrating you are following the standard will help ensure that you are protecting your business.

We have worked with a number of clients how have previously had poor assessments and unfortunately lead them down a pathway of gaining a high technical monitoring fails, only for the same certification body threaten to remove their certification without any further support.

Our approach is to support our clients to get it right, encourage them not to cut corners and provide a robust assessment that identifies any route causes that could lead to any damage to their business.

Although it may seem like hard work initially this leads to firm foundations and a compliant organisation that reaps the rewards.

Want to start your PAS 2030 journey with Simply?

We are welcoming new applications from customers across the UK, whether a small start up or large national contractors.

Simply start your online application today.

TrustMark welcomes latest Scheme Provider, Simply Certification

TrustMark Scheme Provider

Press Release from TrustMark 16 February 2022

The latest UK certification organisation to receive UKAS accreditation has joined TrustMark as a new Scheme Provider.

Simply Certification provides UKAS certification for a variety of organisations who operate within the Construction supply chain including the Eco and Decarbonisation sector for new and existing buildings.

Certifications include PAS 2030 (Eco efficient installer), ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), ISO 45001 (Health and Safety) and ISO 19650 (Building Information Modelling).

Simply Certification was launched in August 2020 by its founder members, all of whom come from the certification industry. Their aim is to simplify the certification process where possible and ensure that the assessment experience is not unnecessarily overcomplicated.

Alongside assessing certifications for domestic retrofit installations, they also recently launched a service around PAS 2038 (Assessment and Design of the Retrofit of Energy Efficiency Measures for Commercial Building Stock) and are working with some large national contractors to help them and their supply chain become compliant.

Now that Simply Certification is a TrustMark Scheme Provider, their customers will be able to gain both certifications for PAS 2030 and become a TrustMark Registered Business as part of the services offered.

Simon Ayers, CEO TrustMark said,

“Simply Certification is a welcome addition to TrustMark. Their focus on quality and compliance aligns with our own and further strengthens the drive for improvement. The team’s emphasis on working collaboratively with their businesses and supporting them through a robust but straightforward approach to achieving certification helps to achieve continual improvement as well as the end goal. As retrofitting our homes increases in importance, services offered by organisations like Simply Certification to the construction industry are integral in achieving the quality and standards required in this vital area. We look forward to working with them.”

Austin Gibbons, Managing Director at Simply Certification added,

“Having worked within compliance for a number of years supporting organisation to gain certification, I have first-hand experience of the frustrations of trying to gain and maintain certification. We’re very excited to be able to provide a certification service that installers and contractors feel is of great value. It’s so important that our customers feel like customers and have a positive experience with us.

“We are seeing the growing need for PAS 2030 certification and TrustMark Registration within the construction sector as it is becoming recognised that meeting these requirements demonstrates high quality for retrofit installation. We’re excited to become a TrustMark Scheme Provider and to be able to offer another level of quality to our customers.”

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