A COMPANY providing training in the field of renewable energy has opened a new centre in West Yorkshire.

Brighouse-based Ploughcroft has launched the Green Deal-ready centre in Wakefield in partnership with UTN Training.

The purpose-built training centre will provide Green Deal and renewable energy installation courses as well as health and safety courses for anyone involved in the construction sector.

It includes a 14,500 sq ft indoor training area with 15 fully-equipped classrooms, which can cater for 180 delegates at any one time.

It also has a 3,000 sq ft outdoor training area and car parking available for 200 cars. The centre also features a training roof, extensive work bays for solar PV, solar thermal installation and training areas for heat pumps and biomass boiler installation. There is also an external training facility for wind turbine installation.

Ploughcroft managing director Chris Hopkins, who represents SMEs on the Government’s Green Construction Board, said: “We are really excited about the new training centre. From August, a full turnkey training solution for Green Deal installers and Green Deal assessors will be in place, opening up new opportunities for construction industry professionals.

“The centre will be capable of upskilling 10,000 people a year, so will help meet the Government’s ambitious targets for full Green Deal adoption across with the UK, with a fully qualified Green Deal workforce.”

Mr Hopkins said the aim was to help construction workers meet consumer demand arising from Government incentives, such as the Renewable Heat Incentive and Green Deal. Ploughcroft already offers NVQs in solar PV for roofers.

Said Mr Hopkins: “There are fantastic opportunities for construction industry professionals to upskill in renewable technologies and reap the benefits of lucrative new income streams and we can offer them everything they need to do this.

“We have geared up to meet demand in the industry with what must be one of the most impressive training facilities in the country, backed up by the highest quality training available.”

Ploughcroft will create at least five new jobs in its first year during which it expects to train 10,000 people. Courses will begin in early July.

Alongside the renewable energy installation courses, Ploughcroft will be working with Wakefield-based health and safety training company UTN to deliver health and safety training for construction industry professionals.

UTN chairman Steve Fisher said: “We are delighted to be working with Ploughcroft to deliver the very highest quality health and safety training to help meet the needs of the construction industry.

“With Ploughcroft’s expertise in renewable energy and our reputation for health & safety training, we have everything that a construction worker needs to meet market demand.”