New Green Training Programs for Construction Professionals

It has recently been confirmed that the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) will be working in partnership with the Cambridge University Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL), the College of Estate Management and WSP to provide training programmes for professionals involved in the construction and property industries.

The training program is due to launch in 2010 and will be part of the Sustainability and Training Education Programme (Step). Step was launched after research showed that there is a large demand for tradesman to get involved with green education and training.

An introductory course will be given by the College of Estate Management to cover sustainable development and buildings. It is expected that around 12,500 people will take the course in the first 12 months, either in person or online.

The WSP and the CPSL will also deliver a sustainability leadership course which is aimed at senior management professionals, and those at board-level, in construction and property industries. In its first 12 months the course will have space for 90 people.

The head of business development at UKGBC, Chad Harrell, said that the organization is delighted to be taking on ‘like-minded delivery partners’ to help make Step happen.

The UKGBC works to promote sustainability within construction, hoping to open up green jobs. Despite the economic climate, there is still demand for measures such as double glazing, insulation and renewable energy sources in households – which the UKGBC will add to by teaching about sustainable practice, materials and more.