Scotland’s first generation of ‘renewables apprentices’ were unveiled to UK Shadow Ministers on Tuesday (15 November).

Caroline Flint MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, toured City Building’s Glasgow House, which successfully demonstrates a two-thirds energy cost reduction compared with a typical three-bedroom home.

Tom Greatrex MP, Shadow Energy Minister also met apprentices involved in the pioneering project at City Building’s Skills Academy in Laurieston, where the two prototype, efficient, fully functional family homes are sited.

City Building runs Scotland’s largest – and most successful – apprentice training centres and trains over 500 trade apprentice joiners, electricians, plumbers, gas engineers, painters & decorators.

As part of the programme the apprentices will gain specific qualifications in micro-renewables. The move is designed to meet the growing market for green installations to support the UK’s ambitious energy-efficiency targets.

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The Glasgow House project, a unique partnership between City Building, Glasgow Housing Association and PRP Architects, has delivered highly-efficient prototype family homes constructed by local workers and apprentices, which have cut fuel costs dramatically at a time of major concern for families.

Caroline Flint MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: “I’ve been very impressed by what I have seen at the Skills Academy. Apprentices here are receiving the kind of training that will meet the needs of the workplace of today and tomorrow. Their skills will most certainly be in demand.”

Tom Greatrex MP, the Shadow Energy Minister, added: “Fuel poverty is an area of real ongoing concern for families in Scotland and across the UK. That’s why the Glasgow House, which has the capacity to cut annual energy costs by two thirds, is such an exciting beacon of hope. We’ve been lucky enough to have a glimpse of the family house of the future.”

Cllr. Stephen Curran, Chair of City Building, said: “We are very proud of the groundbreaking direction we are taking at City Building which has always looked to equip its apprentices with the skills they need for today and the future. Our workers are arguably the most skilled tradespeople in Scotland and will certainly support the society of tomorrow.”

A recent report from The Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit (MEARU), which looks at solar energy design within the Mackintosh School of Architecture, has also praised the Glasgow House.

It said: “The dwellings [make] a significant contribution to mitigating the effects of fuel poverty,” and that for future residents of such houses, “fuel poverty would not be experienced, regardless of the household’s economic activity.”

(GK)