Chichester College Group
Green skills in the built environment: apprenticeships, retrofit and low carbon construction
Finalist, Next Generation Learning and Skills
Finalist, Next Generation Learning and Skills
About
Chichester College Group is embedding green skills into construction, engineering and building services training so learners, apprentices and existing tradespeople can support the transition to the low carbon built environment.
Building on Department for Education Strategic Development Fund investment through Greener Sussex, the project is moving from one-off investment into sustained curriculum delivery and employer-led skills development. Across Crawley, Chichester, Brighton MET and East Brighton Campus, learners are gaining practical experience in decarbonisation academies, photovoltaic systems, air source heat pumps, low carbon heating, EV charging, rainwater and greywater systems, circular economy approaches and heritage building skills.
The initiative links employer partnerships, funded apprenticeship units, commercial upskilling and local skills priorities, helping create a pipeline of work-ready skilled trades for low carbon construction, retrofit, thus building resilient, sustainable local communities across Sussex.
Annual turnover/income: £126,738,000
Chichester College Group includes colleges across Sussex, including Chichester, Crawley, Brighton MET, East Brighton, Brinsbury, Northbrook, Worthing and Haywards Heath.
Top 3 learnings
1. We achieve more when colleges, employers and specialist partners design learning together.
2. Green skills work best when embedded into practical training, not added separately.
3. We learned that retrofit, heritage and new technology all matter for the low carbon built-environment.
SDGs
11. Sustainable cities and communities
| 2026 | |
| Next Generation Learning and Skills | |
| Finalist, UK and Ireland |
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