The authors of the letter were directors of the Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) and director of Common Weal, Dr Keith Baker FRSA.

Historic Environment Scotland, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE Scotland), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), and the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT Scotland East) are among the letter’s signatories.

The letter mentioned that there is no dedicated Scottish Government funding to drive training for retrofit skills, in spite of the rising need for thousands of trained professionals, such as builders, heating engineers, architects, surveyors and insulation installers.

As of yet, the UK Government has committed millions of pounds through the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Competition, Skills Bootcamps, and other funding streams to help retrofit delivery.

The group has said that without a similar type of investment Scotland faces a shortfall of skilled workers to tackle demand, hold-ups in reaching climate and housing targets, losing employment to other areas of the UK, and missed economic and social advantages of a low-carbon building sector.

They are urging the Scottish Government to: commit financial support for retrofit training and workforce development as part of its climate and housing initiatives; to collaborate with colleges, training providers, local authorities, professional bodies and industry to increase delivery; to maintain access to training for those currently underrepresented in the construction workforce, including women and young people.

The letter has been timed to coincide with the upcoming publication of the Planning and Discovery report for the Scottish Government’s Heat and Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment (HEETSA), of which, Dr Baker served the role of peer-reviewer with teams including SEDA’s current chair and vice chair.

There is also an associated petition to the Scottish Parliament that individuals can sign.

The letter and link to the petition can be viewed here: https://seda.scot/open-letter.

Glo Lo, a director of SEDA, said: “There is a growing need for the Scottish Government to lead and invest in training for a just transition that matches the urgency of our climate and biodiversity breakdown.

“SEDA has for many years led the dissemination of healthy built environment knowledge drawn from its diverse membership in the construction industries; now, we need that knowledge to be implemented.”

Lo added: “Retrofit is fundamental to limit resource depletion, maximise energy efficiency and comfort, and tackle fuel poverty.  Without funding for training and upskilling, we fall into the trap of talk without action. The signatories of this letter demonstrate a grassroots demand that must not be delayed any further.”

Dr Keith Baker said: “The list of respected organisations and companies who’ve signed up to the letter is humbling, and shows just how serious the retrofit community is about ensuring everyone in Scotland can enjoy comfortable, healthy, and energy efficient homes and workplaces.

“However, achieving that goal will require ramping up the delivery of training and upskilling across the education sector and beyond, which means leadership and investment from the Scottish Government will be essential.”

Full list of signatories:

• Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA)
• Common Weal
• Historic Environment Scotland
• Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
• Chartered Institution of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE) Scotland
• Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
• Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, Scotland East
• Energy Action Scotland
• Dundee Civic Trust
• Scientists for Global Responsibility
• Fraser/Livingstone Architects
• Studio AWA
• Pattiesmuir Ltd
• ArchiLife
• Tinsdale Architects Ltd
• Arbour
• FEL Scotland
• DDS Architecture
• OiSA Designs
• Zest Architects