The chance to shape the future of climate change has been helped by the launch of Green Skills Academy courses which have received £80,000 of funding from the Council at two local colleges.
City of Bath College and Norton Radstock College have teamed up to deliver a range of cutting-edge training opportunities in renewable technologies and energy efficiency in buildings. The new Green Skills Academy will provide training on emerging technologies, particularly targeting unemployed young people and small businesses in the area, to help them to benefit from these new opportunities.
Each College will act as a training hub. City of Bath College will deliver training in renewable technologies and Norton Radstock will provide courses focusing on energy efficiency in buildings. Courses available at City of Bath College include training in air source heat pumps, solar thermal, solar photovoltaic and the skills needed to become a Domestic Energy Adviser. Norton Radstock College will provide training in a range of skills including use of wood-fuel, rain-water harvesting, home energy efficiency and carpentry and joinery.
The initiative is being showcased by the Council as a good example of how local organisations are working in partnership to tackle climate change and save energy.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said, “The funding provided by Bath & North East Somerset Council is supporting communities to become less dependent on high carbon energy.
“The Green Skills Academy courses offered by the colleges are excellent and are typical of the many imaginative, effective projects underway in our area. These projects are a crucial part of the strategy that was recently agreed to promote environmental sustainability and tackle climate change locally. It is vital that residents, organisations and community groups work together, because no organisation can achieve this on their own.”
The strategy contains many projects which enable local people and businesses to cut carbon. The strategy was approved following the Council’s decision to become one of the first local authorities nationwide to sign the Climate Local Commitment which is designed to drive, inspire, and support council action on carbon reduction.
Matt Atkinson, City of Bath College Principal, said: “In this time of environmental and economic change, the Green Skills Academy will prepare learners with the vital skills and knowledge they need to thrive in a competitive sector. The courses on offer will be suitable for everyone but we are particularly targeting young unemployed people and small and medium-sized businesses. I’m delighted that City of Bath College and Norton Radstock Colleges have teamed up to deliver these courses and look forward to providing renewable technologies training to the workforce of the future.”
Shirley Arayan, Principal, Norton Radstock College, said: “As a College we are delighted to be working in partnership with City of Bath on what is a very important agenda for the UK, B&NES Businesses and residents – we are looking forward to building a sustainable future.”
For more information about the courses offered through the Green Skills Academy, contact:
- City of Bath College: Call 01225 312191 or visit www.citybathcoll.ac.uk You can also drop into the City of Bath College’s Student Advice Centre at its Avon Street campus or come to Open Day, Thursday 8th November 2012, 4-7pm.
- Norton Radstock College: Call 01761 433161 or visit www.nortcoll.ac.uk You can also drop into the College’s Main Site, Wells Road, Radstock or come to Open Day Saturday 10th November 2012, 10am-1pm.
