The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies has joined forces with the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), to encourage FMB members into delivering renewable and low carbon measures through support and discounted Academy courses.

Network operations manager for the Skills Academy Kevin Dowd said: "With the Green Deal of particular relevance to builders, this partnership will hopefully encourage FMB members to take the necessary steps to deliver related services; such as insulation and fenestration. 

"Recent increases in the funding available through the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF), should make the scheme even more attractive to homeowners. By training with the Academy, builders can benefit from top-up and assessment only routes, depending on their experience, plus a raft of support material to help keep knowledge up-to-date and sell-in the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable measures to consumers. 

"Working with trade associations is key to the Skills Academy's ethos - it helps us keep abreast of the needs of industry, provides a platform for a two way conversation between the Academy and our customers and ensures qualified installers have access to industry-leading training, delivered in a way to suit the needs of their business."

Hayley Ellis, FMB training director, added: "The National Skills Academy does an excellent job of helping clients and contractors to get the right skills where they need them and we're pleased to have this opportunity to work more closely with them."