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Free courses for those affected by ECO funding changes
The Installation Assurance Authority Federation (The IAAF) has announced a funded training opportunity, offering retrofit and energy efficiency professionals the chance to join fully funded training courses where employment has been affected by changes to ECO funding or wider sector uncertainty.
According to a survey undertaken by The IAAF, a leading representative body in the energy efficiency industry, over 14,800 skilled professionals have been made redundant since the closure of ECO was announced by the government. Furthermore, job losses are expected to rise to 40,000 in the next six months and potentially reach as high as 80,000 over twelve months.
Across the industry, skilled individuals have experienced reduced workloads, contract losses, delayed projects and employment disruption.
Despite these challenges, the UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan, a £15 billion initiative to upgrade up to 5 million homes by 2030, offers the retrofit supply chain long-term hope.
Caroline Kuchta, Chief Operating Officer at The IAA, said: “The long-term demand for qualified retrofit professionals remains strong despite current market pressures. Retaining skills within the industry is essential to meeting future delivery requirements.
“The IAAF remains committed to supporting competence, quality and workforce resilience across the retrofit sector. Typically, with such significant job losses, the government would step in and set up initiatives to ensure those facing redundancy had effective support to help get them back into employment. It is disappointing that this has not yet materialised, and The IAAF has had to deploy its own funds to support those affected.”
These fully funded training courses are designed to support professionals seeking to strengthen their employability by gaining recognised qualifications and to remain active in retrofit amid industry uncertainty.
Retrofit professionals affected by current sector conditions are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, before the 15th July 2026 deadline, as funded places are limited.
The funded places are available for the following qualifications and delivered online, so that all retrofit professionals throughout England can access the training:
- Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management
- Level 4 Award in Assessing Domestic Dwellings for Retrofit
- Level 4 Award in Retrofit Assessment and Older and Traditional Buildings (combined course)
- Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures in Older and Traditional Buildings
Applicants must meet the relevant course pre-requisites and suitability criteria. Priority consideration will be given to those who can demonstrate employment disruption linked to current conditions in the energy efficiency and retrofit sector – including redundancy, reduced workloads, loss of ECO-related contracts, employer restructuring, or difficulty securing work within the sector. Evidence requirements will be handled sensitively and confidentially.
Professionals seeking to explore the programme before the 15th July deadline are encouraged to speak to the team confidentially about supported training opportunities, discuss suitable qualification pathways, or explore ways to strengthen their role within the energy efficiency sector.
See the IAA at InstallerSHOW 2026, 23-25 June at the NEC, on stand 5H69.