The future of retrofit and sustainable construction took another major step forward this month as Stoke on Trent College officially opened the doors to its new £2.3 million Advanced Green Technology Centre, a space designed to inspire, train and equip the next generation of professionals.
Benx was proud to attend the launch and support the college’s ambition to create real world pathways into careers across retrofit, renewable technologies and external wall insulation installation.
Representing Benx at the event were Group CEO Dr. Kevin Ruane and Facades Training Manager Andy Clewlow, who joined education leaders, industry specialists and local stakeholders to celebrate the opening of a facility that places sustainability and skills development firmly at the heart of the region’s future.
The launch brought together an impressive line up of speakers, including Hassan Rizvi, Principal and CEO of Stoke on Trent College, Daniel Cope of Green Lark, MP David Williams, the college’s new Head of Learning Tim Johnson, and the Mayor of Stoke on Trent, Councillor Steve Watkins.
Throughout the event, one message came through loud and clear. The transition to net zero cannot happen without investment in people.
That vision strongly aligns with Benx’s own commitment to helping nurture the next generation of skilled installers and retrofit professionals. As part of the partnership with Stoke on Trent College, Benx has been working closely with the college to showcase façade systems and introduce students to the opportunities available within the retrofit and external wall insulation sector.
Recent training sessions delivered by Benx received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both staff and students, offering hands on insight into façade solutions, installation methods and the growing demand for practical retrofit expertise across the UK.
For many learners, the sessions provided a first look into an industry that is rapidly becoming one of the most important sectors within the built environment.
The college’s new programme offering reflects that momentum. Courses span a broad range of green technologies, including air source heat pumps, solar photovoltaic systems, solar thermal, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, retrofit coordination, insulation systems and electric vehicle awareness. Together, they form a comprehensive curriculum aimed at building practical, future ready skills for the evolving construction landscape.
What makes the centre particularly exciting is its focus on applied learning. From project based education to industry led collaboration, the facility has been designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the realities of the job site, something Benx sees as essential for the long term success of the retrofit sector.
The demand for skilled professionals in retrofit and energy efficiency continues to grow at pace. Alongside new technologies and ambitious sustainability targets comes a clear need to engage younger generations early, helping them understand the scale of opportunity available within construction and green technology careers.
For Benx, partnerships like this represent more than sponsorship or attendance at an opening event. They are part of a wider mission to strengthen the industry pipeline, support education and help create a workforce capable of delivering safer, warmer and more energy efficient buildings across the UK.
The opening of the Advanced Green Technology Centre is an encouraging sign of what can happen when education and industry work together with a shared purpose.
And if the energy in the room was anything to go by, Stoke on Trent’s next generation of retrofit talent is already on its way.
