What will the new government mean for LCL Awards centres?
03 Jul 2024
It’s voting day on the 4th July and a Labour government looks highly likely. This will mean change, hopefully with some benefits to centres and learners. Here are some of the main policies that could impact our sector:
Local Power Plan
One of Labour’s stand out proposals is the Local Power Plan, a policy that could significantly impact the renewable energy sector if they win.
Labour’s Local Power Plan aims to invest up to £1 billion annually into local energy projects, with £600 million allocated to local authorities and £400 million directed towards community energy organisations. This funding is designed to support initiatives such as installing solar panels on council-owned properties and delivering community-led small-scale renewable energy projects.
Great British Energy
The Local Power Plan is part of the wider plan to launch Great British Energy, a publicly owned energy company that would manage and operate clean energy projects across the UK with access to £8.3 billion over the course of the parliament. By decentralising energy production, Labour aims to empower local communities participate in, and benefit from, the transition to clean energy.
Overall, Labour says it plans to introduce tougher regulation to prioritise consumers, reduce standing charges and attract investment to cut bills.
Improve home standards
Labour promises to invest an additional £6.6 billion, working with the private sector to deliver grants and low-interest loans for home energy efficiency upgrades, solar panels, batteries and low carbon heating. It seems likely that Low Temperature Heating & Hot Water will be a pre-requisite of these grants and loans.
The party also plans to build 1.5 million new homes, update Local Plans, and strengthen sustainable development.
Encourage training and apprenticeships
Labour says it would establish a youth guarantee for training and apprenticeships and create Skills England to coordinate workforce development, while reforming the Apprenticeships Levy, with the ‘Flexible Growth and Skills Levy’.
How can training centres adapt?
If Labour’s plan comes into force, the injection of substantial funding into local energy and the introduction of low-cost loans for home upgrades, could lead to a surge in demand for skilled workers to install and maintain renewable energy systems.
LCL Awards training centres are a critical step in upskilling the installer base for net zero. Here’s how training centres can adapt to meet new demand and ensure they are at the forefront of the energy transition:
· Expand training courses: LCL Awards centres might consider broadening their course offerings or expanding capacity to meet local demand for solar PV, heat pumps and other renewables and retrofitting.
· Address local skills gaps: The Local Power Plan will give local authorities more power to tailor energy projects to meet regional needs. Addressing skills gaps specific to your local area will create a workforce ready to tackle the unique challenges of local energy projects.
· Offer flexible training: Offering flexible training models, such as part time courses, evening classes or online modules, is a great way to accommodate a broader range of trainees. If you haven’t already, sign up to our LCL Awards Inclusivity Charter to make sure you are encouraging as many trainees as possible through your doors.
· Enhance practical delivery: We would also encourage centres to develop innovative delivery methods that enhance practical training and better prepare trainees for real-world scenarios, ensuring quick integration into the workplace.
Forge local connections: Training centres should actively promote courses and qualifications to local authorities and community groups involved in renewable energy projects.
Establishing job placement programs in collaboration with local renewable energy projects will also support trainees' transition into employment while helping these projects access skilled labour.
By focusing on delivering high-quality training that meets local demand, centres can play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of energy projects, the development of skills for net zero and their local economy.
It’s voting day on the 4th July and a Labour government looks highly likely. This will mean change, hopefully with some benefits to centres and learners. Here are some of the main policies that could impact our sector:
Local Power Plan
One of Labour’s stand out proposals is the Local Power Plan, a policy that could significantly impact the renewable energy sector if they win.
Labour’s Local Power Plan aims to invest up to £1 billion annually into local energy projects, with £600 million allocated to local authorities and £400 million directed towards community energy organisations. This funding is designed to support initiatives such as installing solar panels on council-owned properties and delivering community-led small-scale renewable energy projects.
Great British Energy
The Local Power Plan is part of the wider plan to launch Great British Energy, a publicly owned energy company that would manage and operate clean energy projects across the UK with access to £8.3 billion over the course of the parliament. By decentralising energy production, Labour aims to empower local communities participate in, and benefit from, the transition to clean energy.
Overall, Labour says it plans to introduce tougher regulation to prioritise consumers, reduce standing charges and attract investment to cut bills.
Improve home standards
Labour promises to invest an additional £6.6 billion, working with the private sector to deliver grants and low-interest loans for home energy efficiency upgrades, solar panels, batteries and low carbon heating. It seems likely that Low Temperature Heating & Hot Water will be a pre-requisite of these grants and loans.
The party also plans to build 1.5 million new homes, update Local Plans, and strengthen sustainable development.
Encourage training and apprenticeships
Labour says it would establish a youth guarantee for training and apprenticeships and create Skills England to coordinate workforce development, while reforming the Apprenticeships Levy, with the ‘Flexible Growth and Skills Levy’.
How can training centres adapt?
If Labour’s plan comes into force, the injection of substantial funding into local energy and the introduction of low-cost loans for home upgrades, could lead to a surge in demand for skilled workers to install and maintain renewable energy systems.
LCL Awards training centres are a critical step in upskilling the installer base for net zero. Here’s how training centres can adapt to meet new demand and ensure they are at the forefront of the energy transition:
· Expand training courses: LCL Awards centres might consider broadening their course offerings or expanding capacity to meet local demand for solar PV, heat pumps and other renewables and retrofitting.
· Address local skills gaps: The Local Power Plan will give local authorities more power to tailor energy projects to meet regional needs. Addressing skills gaps specific to your local area will create a workforce ready to tackle the unique challenges of local energy projects.
· Offer flexible training: Offering flexible training models, such as part time courses, evening classes or online modules, is a great way to accommodate a broader range of trainees. If you haven’t already, sign up to our LCL Awards Inclusivity Charter to make sure you are encouraging as many trainees as possible through your doors.
· Enhance practical delivery: We would also encourage centres to develop innovative delivery methods that enhance practical training and better prepare trainees for real-world scenarios, ensuring quick integration into the workplace.
Forge local connections: Training centres should actively promote courses and qualifications to local authorities and community groups involved in renewable energy projects.
Establishing job placement programs in collaboration with local renewable energy projects will also support trainees' transition into employment while helping these projects access skilled labour.
By focusing on delivering high-quality training that meets local demand, centres can play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of energy projects, the development of skills for net zero and their local economy.