The Countdown has begun: the Green Deal represents a bright spot in our industry’s future, but industry, Government and training providers must work together to put qualification frameworks in place as a matter of urgency. Small and medium sized contractors need to prepare now if they are to benefit when the Green Deal launches in Autumn 2012.

This was the message from Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills, at a roundtable discussion on the construction industry’s future green skills needs hosted by The Guardian earlier this month.

Mark Farrar commented: “Preparing for the Green Deal’s launch before Autumn 2012 is an enormous challenge and we need a truly collaborative effort to make this a success. Clarity is needed as soon as possible on the targets and remits of Green Deal advisors and assessors, as soon as this is in place then industry, Government and training providers must work together to put the necessary frameworks in place.”