The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) has said that funding needs to prioritise developing the skilled workforce to deliver a transformative green agenda.

Responding to the Government's budget announcement of over £500M Net Zero initiatives, Fiona Hodgson, SNIPEF Chief Executive, said: "The government’s transformative Net Zero agenda is welcomed and supported by our sector; however, we urge greater priority is given to the skills development of the people needed to realise these already challenging targets.

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"It is critical that apprenticeship funding is focussed towards developing the essential skills of our next generation of plumbers and heat engineers, as well as upskilling the current workforce in areas such as heat pumps.

"By ensuring the people with the needed skills are recruited and developed today, and in the future, the government can showcase to the world that the green economic model contained within their Net Zero ambitions is both viable and sustainable."