The Building Skills for Net Zero, report by the Construction Industry Training Board outlines the need for a new wave of green building specialists to reduce carbon emissions.

The reposrt states: “The move to cleaner, greener construction presents big opportunities to make the industry more attractive to new recruits and upskill the existing workforce.”

A critical element of achieving Net Zero will be reducing carbon emissions from existing buildings which will require retrofit work on up to 27 million domestic and 2 million non-domestic buildings.

By 2028 additional decarbonisation work will have created the demand for 86,000 construction project managers, 33,000 building envelope specialists and 59,000 plumbers and HVAC specialists.

Chris Carr, Managing Director of Carr & Carr Builders, and Federation of Master Builders Board Member, said: “The skills challenge around Net Zero is huge and this research shows how it can be tackled.

“A big part of it will be upskilling the current workforce so that they understand what sustainable building is all about.

“If we work together as an industry, we can make construction greener while seizing opportunities for growth.”

CITB Strategy and Policy Director Steve Radley said: “Net Zero presents a huge challenge for construction but an even greater opportunity to create a more productive industry that’s also a more attractive career option.

“We can get there by being clear on the key skills we’ll need, making sure we have the right courses and qualifications to deliver them and getting on with investing in them.

“Industry is already delivering what is needed, but it needs to happen at scale. The training sector must act now as employers’ needs will change fast. A joined up approach to skills across the built environment is key.

“Government also has a key role in specifying what it wants and creating the pipeline of demand that will give industry the confidence to invest in the skills we need and for providers to invest in the courses we need to deliver these skills.”