Free training in low energy building starts this month

This free pilot training, which is taking place in centres around the country, is funded by European Commission Build Up Skills Initiative. It aims to upskill Irish construction workers to address the skills shortage for low-energy construction.

The FES course will focus on quality and efficiency of new construction and retrofitting practices, and "challenge the way building construction workers work, process and understand shared goals". By focusing on quality building, of which low-energy buildings is a priority theme, there are greater opportunities for the construction supply chain to take ownership of the issue, improving attitudes to quality and developing higher expectations of what is acceptable work.

The programme will be delivered through a mix of workshops, site visits and other practice-based activities with a total commitment of three days for participants. There will be a choice of full day courses, evening courses and online delivery. With only 200 free places available, expressions of interest from the trades and other building construction workers, including foremen and site supervisors, should be made as soon as possible through the QualiBuild website.

The training has been developed by a consortium comprising the Irish Green Building Council, Construction Industry Federation, Limerick Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology in Blanchardstown. Further information on the project can be found at www.QualiBuild.ie.