Although NFB has many members that are doing impressive work in construction, we seldom have a company that receives global acclaim. This happened recently to GenCarbon, who presented their innovative SWAP scheme success at a UN Webinar with contributors from across four continents. 

With the government targets to achieve net zero by 2050 and their commitment to a 68% reduction in emissions by 2030, GenCarbon, a specialist in renewable energy is much in demand.  Many companies engage in the design of this technology but few can deliver the increasing demand for Photovoltaic (PV) electricity better known as solar power. As an installer, GenCarbon has seen a huge demand for high quality renewable energy installations including solar panels, framing and DC cabling. 

In 2023, as the market was growing for installation services, GenCarbon was established to meet the increasing demand. As a start-up business they were keen to both have a trained workforce but also not to recruit from within an already stretched industry sector. Even within the sector, mechanical installer skills are hard to find as workers are trained “on-the-job” or simply walk into a career with some roofing or electrical experience. As a relatively new technology, there was no existing training course available for this type of work.  Rather than give up, the company decided to take things into their own hands.

Step forward the SWAP scheme. SWAP stands for ‘Sector-Based Work Academy Programme’. It is a training scheme devised by Central Government that funds bespoke training which is not being delivered commercially.  The only requisite is that this training must only be available to those that are unemployed. 

As a company with social value at its heart, this seemed a win-win solution. There was no PV practical training courses available, so it seemed sensible to develop one specifically tailored to the industry, and specifically GenCarbon’s needs, that offered opportunities to candidates outside the sector. Recruiting from the unemployed would not only help the local economy but would also help address the skill shortage that construction industry is facing, bringing new people into the sector. 

GenCarbon, as the sponsoring company, had two duties to perform: the first was to work with a college to create a suitable course and the second to interview all who successfully completed the programme. The company approached Moulton College in Northamptonshire to provide the course. Moulton and GenCarbon then worked with Jobcentre Plus in Northampton to find suitable solar installers from outside the industry. After weighing up the course content and practical aspects and some deliberation with the College, GenCarbon decided that the training course would be about 3 weeks in duration and would focus on hands on training and real-world experience.  About 70% of the course was practical work and 30% classroom based which included health and safety. Tools and equipment were kindly donated by GenCarbon and other companies to ensure students were trained using the very latest in industry equipment and technology. In preparation for the course, GenCarbon also constructed a commercial roof test rig for the students to practice their installation techniques on.

The first course finished in October 2023 and since then a further three courses have taken place. The whole programme has been a huge success. After 4 courses, 27 students have been taken on by GenCarbon of the 48 who attended interviews.  The new employees have gone straight into productive work where the skills they have learnt and developed while in the SWAP are put to good use, building large solar arrays safely and to high quality, that will meet the needs of the energy demand now and in the future. The Jobcentre Plus Employer Advisor Team stated: “We are pleased to be working with GenCarbon in moving people into employment with a structured training plain in a sector promoting low carbon solutions and offering long term careers.” 

Managing Director Richard Wakeford said: “This is a fantastic way into our sector for those on benefits who gain knowledge and experience without loss of benefits during the course. It is a great way for our solar industry to set standards and influence the skills available to our industry, as well as sourcing much needed new recruits. We at GenCarbon have been really impressed with the quality of candidates and we look forward to continuing our relationship with JCP and Moulton College.”

The success of the course has been widely acclaimed and as a result, Managing Director Richard Wakeford was asked to present the GenCarbon/Moulton College SWAP at a UNDP Local Action webinar earlier this month promoting training and skills development in the renewable energy sector world-wide.  The case study was presented alongside another innovative scheme from Mexico City and chaired by a UN Sustainable Development Champion from India. 

Matt Smith, Executive Director of Skills & Business Development at Moulton College at the time of the first two courses, summed things up: “The Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus helped to recruit a cohort of committed and enthusiastic learners… To secure long-term, high-value employment with GenCarbon is a fantastic outcome for everyone. Roll on the next course!”

The SWAP scheme has generated much interest both regionally and nationally to the extent that a year on from the first course GenCarbon welcomed Sir Peter Schofield KCB, Permanent Secretary at the DWP and Ashley Ibbett, Director General for Energy Infrastructure at DESNZ to site to meet with their cohort of SWAP participants to learn first-hand of the transition from unemployment to trained work and how GenCarbon is addressing the shortage of skills to support the delivery of the Governments Net Zero Carbon goals.