In the interview below, Maddy Hitchcox from Apli Construction Ltd speaks with the FMB’s South Hub Director, Iain Kirtley, about the recent retrofit course she completed which was offered for free for FMB members in Oxfordshire thanks to Abingdon & Witney College’s Net Zero Skills Hub.
Iain: Hi Maddy, thanks for taking the time to speak with me. It’s great to hear that you were able to take advantage of the offer from Abingdon & Witney College to undertake a free Level 2 course. What was it about the course which appealed to you?
Maddy: The opportunity to learn about a relatively new area of construction at home at your own pace and the ability to take the exam online. This all made the whole process very easy and, being a free course to FMB Oxfordshire members, very cost effective! It is also important to be able to demonstrate to customers, both current and potential, that we are continually updating our skills in relevant areas.
Iain: Why do you see retrofit being an important area for you and your business to look at?
Maddy: With the ever-increasing requirements for energy efficiency and performance, this sector can only grow. With the introduction of BSL this year, the costs involved with extending and refurbishing might delay some projects but, for landlords for example, these energy requirements are not going away. If we can demonstrate knowledge and competence from an early position that will enable us to be competitive when quoting for such projects.
Iain: What was one main thing you learnt?
Maddy: It was great to be able to learn about how each type of construction can be retrofitted with different options as well as the varied roles included within the growing retrofit industry.
Iain: How will you be use what you’ve learnt on the course?
Maddy: We will be able to advise clients about energy efficient products available that could help both them and the environment.
Iain: What would you say to a fellow Master Builder about retrofit and how it could support their business?
Maddy: This sector is here to stay and if you want a slice of the pie you are going to need to know the research, the methods and the costs of the retrofit options for your clients!
Iain: What’s next for you in the world of retrofit?
Maddy: I hope the Government will look at the retrofit sector and ask why they are not applying the same (or better!) standards to new builds. Whilst it is a great work stream for those in the industry, we should not have to be retrofitting to new and recently constructed properties now or in the near future. I think the retrofit groups need to be demonstrating affordable case studies to highlight how retrofitting can benefit the average household without breaking the bank.
More on retrofitting
Thanks to Michael Huth at the Net Zero Skills Hub at Abingdon & Witney College for providing access to the courses for free for eligible FMB members.
Maddy Hitchcox is a director at Apli Construction Ltd and also a member of the Southern Counties Area Board. Retrofit and energy efficiency is a key campaign for the FMB and you can find more about it here.
If you’ve experience of retrofit or would like to find out more, feel free to share your thoughts with me.
Authors
Iain Kirtley
With over 20 years’ experience of membership bodies, not for profit organisations and the private sector, Iain joined the FMB in August 2023 from the Chartered Institute of Building where he worked with construction companies of all sizes to support them with training, development and accreditation.
