Case Study: Green Skills Upskilling Project (2024) – Hampshire & South Coast Impact
Overview
SERT partnered with Portsmouth City Council, Havant Borough Council and City of Portsmouth College to deliver the Green Skills Upskilling Project (2024), funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Launched in summer 2024, the programme provided free and subsidised green skills training in Hampshire and Portsmouth, enabling individuals and businesses to gain in-demand qualifications that support the transition to net zero and sustainable energy.
Across the region, 180 green energy qualifications were achieved, helping local tradespeople expand services in solar, battery storage, heat pumps and EV charger installation.
Challenge: Skills Gap in Hampshire’s Low-Carbon Sector
In Hampshire and the South Coast, demand is rising for professionals qualified in renewable energy technologies, heat pump installation, solar PV systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Many local electricians, plumbers and heating engineers lacked up-to-date training in these areas.
Councils recognised that a lack of accessible training in green skills Hampshire would slow the rollout of energy-efficient technologies, so they sought to empower the regional workforce, particularly self-employed professionals, microbusinesses and SMEs in construction and building services.
Solution: Accredited Green Energy Training in Hampshire & Portsmouth
With UK Shared Prosperity Fund backing, the partnership delivered a suite of accredited training courses hosted at SERT Training (Hampshire) and City of Portsmouth College. The training facilities offered modern, industry-standard equipment to ensure practical, hands-on learning.
Courses delivered included:
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Electrical Energy Storage Systems
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Solar PV Installation
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Combined Solar & Battery Systems
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Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) Training
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Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Installation
SERT’s expert trainers guided learners through design, installation and maintenance of renewable energy systems, giving participants immediate confidence to apply skills in their businesses across Hampshire and Portsmouth.
Results & Impact in Hampshire Region
The Green Skills Upskilling Project (2024) delivered tangible outcomes:
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180 qualifications achieved by Hampshire and South Coast residents and tradespeople
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66 participants trained by SERT, completing 97 accredited courses in sustainable energy systems
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Local businesses gained additional capacity to offer solar, battery, heat pump and EV charger installations, boosting competitiveness in a fast-growing green services market
Testimonial:
“The Green Skills funding helped our business through the EV charger course. This was extremely beneficial to have more engineers qualified to install EV chargers, giving us more flexibility with our scheduling.”
Brad Howick, TVR Electrical, Havant
Learners reported enhanced confidence, immediate applicability to their work, and the ability to broaden their service offerings — especially across Hampshire and Portsmouth.
Leadership Perspective
“We are incredibly proud to collaborate with Havant Borough Council, Portsmouth City Council and City of Portsmouth College on this UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant for green upskilling. These initiatives are creating new career opportunities, driving renewable energy adoption and supporting our shared journey toward net zero across Hampshire and the South Coast, making a real difference in our communities.”
Mark Edwards, CEO, SERT Group
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, described the project as “a powerful demonstration of collaboration across local government, training providers and business — enabling residents and firms to thrive in a sustainable economy.”
Cllr Phil Munday, Leader of Havant Borough Council, added: “By training local people in green skills, we are actively supporting climate action in Hampshire. These new skills will help homes and commercial buildings become more energy efficient and future proof our region.”
Looking Forward: Scaling Green Skills Across Hampshire
The success of the Green Skills Upskilling Project (2024) proves that targeted, locally delivered green training can transform the workforce and accelerate net zero progress. SERT intends to expand its training footprint across Hampshire, partnering with councils, colleges and local businesses to deliver more courses in solar PV, battery storage, heat pumps, and EV charging infrastructure.
If your organisation in Hampshire is looking to upskill staff, gain accredited renewable energy qualifications or broaden your green services offering, SERT is ready to help you lead in the low carbon economy.
About SERT
SERT is a leading workforce and training provider specialising in recruitment and technical training across utilities, construction, energy and public services. With a dedicated focus on environment and sustainability, SERT delivers accredited green skills courses for the Hampshire region and beyond, enabling individuals and businesses to thrive in the transition to net zero.