November marked the first anniversary of the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s retrofit programme, proudly sponsored by NatWest Group. Created to tackle climate change by upskilling the built environment sector, this free programme has exceeded its two-year targets within just one year, engaging 4,668 individuals and 1,844 companies—highlighting the demand for sustainable construction practices.
Buildings account for approximately 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions, making large-scale retrofitting essential to achieving net-zero goals. However, the workforce currently lacks the necessary skills and awareness to deliver retrofitting at the required scale. To address this, the School, in partnership with NatWest Group, launched a comprehensive programme offering free CPD-accredited training, including e-learning modules, workshops, webinars, and conferences tailored for professionals in the built environment.
Developed in collaboration with industry leaders, the programme addresses critical sector needs. Organisations such as the Construction Leadership Council, British Standards Institution, Historic England, and major firms like Wates and Canary Wharf Group have shared expertise to advance retrofitting and sustainability.
Programme Achievements
Key milestones in its first year include:
• 4,668 professionals engaged
• 1,844 companies participating
• 2,108 e-learning resources downloaded
• 693 training needs assessments completed
Laura Capper, Head of Construction and Manufacturing at NatWest comments: “As the need for sustainable solutions in the built environment grows, we’re proud to support initiatives like the retrofit programme, which empowers professionals with essential skills to drive real change. By investing in upskilling and collaboration, this programme is bridging critical gaps in retrofit expertise, equipping thousands to deliver sustainable solutions at scale and accelerating progress toward a net-zero future for the UK.”
