Construction Scholarships Aim to Open Doors for Future Talent in Birmingham
New employer-supported construction scholarships at University College Birmingham are set to launch in September 2026, with industry leaders backing the initiative to help create greater access to education and career opportunities across the region.
Among those supporting the programme is Charlene Wall, CEO and Co-Founder of Wood Manor Group, who has pledged support as an Employer Sponsor for construction degree scholarships.
The scholarships have been developed in partnership with employers across the construction sector and beyond, with the aim of helping remove financial barriers that can prevent talented individuals from accessing higher education and progressing into industry careers.
Alongside the scholarship programme, students entering in 2026 will also benefit from an increased £6,000 Cost of Living Allowance, further supporting those who may otherwise feel university education is out of reach.
Speaking about the initiative, Charlene Wall highlighted the wider importance of improving visibility and representation within the construction industry.
“As a woman in construction, this means more,” she said. “It’s about visibility, representation, and showing what’s possible. We’re not just opening doors, we’re changing who walks through them.”
The initiative reflects a growing recognition across the sector of the need to invest in future talent, widen participation and create more accessible pathways into construction and the built environment.
Applications for the Employer Scholarships are now open:
Research Project Seeks Women’s Experiences Across the Renewable Energy Sector
A new research project is exploring the experiences of women working across the renewable energy and sustainability sectors, with a particular focus on representation, workplace culture and the role policy can play in improving gender equality.
The study is being led by Katie Preston, following her experience working within the renewable energy department of a further education institution, where she observed a significant gender imbalance among students entering the field.
According to Katie, fewer than 2% of the student cohort identified as female, prompting wider questions around why the future sustainability workforce is not more representative and what barriers may still exist within the sector.
The research aims to better understand how factors including environment, social background, justice, class and culture can shape experiences within renewable energy and sustainability careers. It will also explore how energy policy and industry practices could help encourage greater gender equality across the sector.
As part of the project, Katie is looking to speak with:
Women currently working within the renewable energy industry, including engineering, project management, research and related fields
Professionals who work alongside or engage with energy policy
Participation involves a voluntary and anonymised online interview lasting no more than two hours.
Those interested in contributing to the research or sharing their experiences can contact Katie directly at:
The project reflects wider conversations taking place across the energy and retrofit sectors around diversity, inclusion and the importance of ensuring future green careers are accessible to people from all backgrounds.
Female-Led Retrofit Business Secures Place on Welsh Government Warm Homes Framework
Jess Billingsley, owner of Renewable Green Energy Ltd, has spoken of her pride after the company secured a two-year Framework Agreement under the Welsh Government Warm Homes Plan.
The award marks a significant milestone for the business, which Jess says has been built around the core values of trust, integrity and honesty since day one.
According to Jess, securing a place on the framework is not only an important achievement for the company, but also a positive reflection of the growing presence of women across the retrofit and energy efficiency sector.
She believes the industry is evolving rapidly and increasingly creating opportunities for women to build successful careers within retrofit, renewables and sustainable housing.
“Being awarded this contract as a female-led company shows that the retrofit industry is growing, and it is growing with women at the forefront,” she said.
Jess also highlighted the importance of encouraging more women into the sector at a time when demand for retrofit skills and delivery continues to increase across the UK.
“There has never been a better time for women to kickstart a career in this industry,” she added.
As Renewable Green Energy Ltd progresses through the Warm Homes framework, the company says it is looking forward to continuing to grow its network and strengthen partnerships across the sector.
The announcement reflects the wider momentum building around retrofit delivery and the increasing visibility of women leading businesses and driving change within the energy efficiency industry.
The project reflects wider conversations taking place across the energy and retrofit sectors around diversity, inclusion and the importance of ensuring future green careers are accessible to people from all backgrounds.
Partnership Aims to Support More Women into Retrofit and Cavity Extraction Careers
Low Carbon Academy, powered by UK Skills Academy, has announced a partnership with CETA aimed at encouraging more women into careers across the retrofit and insulation sector.
The collaboration will focus initially on creating opportunities within cavity extraction and low carbon construction, helping to address both growing skills demand and the need for greater diversity across the industry.
As retrofit and energy efficiency programmes continue to expand across the UK, demand for qualified workers is increasing significantly. At the same time, many organisations across the sector are recognising the importance of building a workforce that is more representative and inclusive.
The partnership between Low Carbon Academy and CETA is intended to help break down barriers that may discourage women from considering careers in construction and retrofit, while also promoting the long-term opportunities available within the low carbon economy.
Low Carbon Academy delivers industry-led training and workforce development programmes designed to equip learners with the practical skills, confidence and qualifications needed to enter the sector and progress within it.
The organisations say the initiative is about more than simply providing training. It is also focused on building confidence, improving accessibility and supporting long-term career development within construction, retrofit and sustainability-focused roles.
With cavity extraction and insulation work expected to remain an important part of the UK’s housing improvement and net zero strategy, the partnership highlights the growing importance of collaboration between employers, training providers and industry bodies in developing the future workforce.
The organisations say they are looking forward to continuing their work together to inspire and support more women entering low carbon and construction careers.
For more information:
Retaining Skills: New Employment Initiative Launched for the Energy Efficiency Sector
The Energy Efficiency Association CIC has launched a new Employment Unit aimed at helping skilled professionals remain within the energy efficiency sector during a period of significant market uncertainty.
The initiative comes in response to growing concerns around workforce retention, particularly following recent disruption linked to the slowdown in ECO-related activity. According to the Association, the response has been immediate, with more than 50 CVs submitted within the first 48 hours of launch.
The strong early engagement highlights an issue many across the sector are already aware of: there is no shortage of experienced people who want to continue working within retrofit and energy efficiency. However, with changing market conditions affecting workloads and business confidence in some areas, there is an increasing need to create clearer pathways between employers and available talent.
The new Employment Unit has been designed to help bridge that gap by connecting jobseekers with businesses looking to recruit or strengthen their teams. The Association says the service will operate confidentially for both employers and candidates.
Support for Jobseekers:
Professionals interested in exploring new opportunities within the sector can upload their CV and join the growing network of retrofit and energy efficiency specialists through the
🔗Employment Unit Portal
Support for Employers:
Businesses looking to recruit experienced professionals or strengthen their teams are encouraged to contact the Association directly to discuss recruitment support and sector connections.
Contact: Gary Braybrooke
📞 07854 793726
📧gary@energyefficiencyassociation.co.uk
As the sector continues to evolve, retaining experienced assessors, installers, coordinators and technical specialists will remain essential to maintaining delivery standards and supporting future growth. Initiatives such as this could play an important role in ensuring valuable skills and industry knowledge are not lost at a time when long-term demand for retrofit expertise is expected to increase.
