Property developers take note – according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), retrofitting is due to take off due to the requirements of the government’s environmentally-friendly construction agenda.
The FMB said that many new jobs in construction will be created over the next few years based upon the need to ensure retrofitting of energy efficient and carbon reduction technologies.
It pointed out that the latest figures to be published by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply reveal that there has been an increase in construction recruitment over the past month. The statistics also indicate that the volume of construction work available is now at its highest level since September 2007.
FMB director of external affairs Brian Berry said that much of this was down to the government’s insistence that existing homes be made more energy efficient, requiring much retrofitting of carbon reduction materials.
The requirement for carbon reduction systems in new homes also means that the technologies required are being sought after by property developers.
The new government is committed to actually encouraging a green agenda and making our existing homes more energy efficient,” Mr Berry said.
“I think we have already seen an upturn there in more entrepreneurial construction companies taking advantage of that. In terms of the retrofitting market and energy efficiency, that is where the job creation will be in the next few years.”
In one example last month, British Gas opened a green skills training centre in south Wales which aims to help advise and train some 1,300 people in readiness for new construction and civil engineering work.