Chadwicks, Ireland’s leading builders’ merchants, has partnered with National Construction Training Campus to bring a new energy and retrofit mobile education hub to select branches nationwide.

A collaboration between the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the education centre will provide both tradespeople and homeowners with everything they need to know about the retrofitting process.

For Tradespeople:

At the retrofit centre, tradespeople can expect to learn from SEAI representatives about the necessary requirements for becoming registered Insulation and Heat Pump Installers. This valuable resource will provide tradespeople with the knowledge and qualifications needed to meet industry standards and expand their professional capabilities.

For Homeowners:

The mobile retrofit centre will provide homeowners with step-by-step guidance on the retrofitting process, including details of the comprehensive range of energy saving products available in the Chadwicks branch network. There will be information provided on each SEAI home energy grant, and guidance on YourRetrofit.ie, an online platform offering free personalised advice on improving the Building Energy Rating (BER) of homes, with tailored roadmaps for home improvements.

According to a recent survey conducted by Chadwicks, 76% of homeowners have either undertaken or plan to undertake energy efficiency improvements in their homes. However, 25% are uncertain about the most impactful measures, and 16% are unsure where to start. Over the coming weeks, the mobile retrofit centre, governed by LOETB, will be present at Chadwicks branches with no Education and Training Board (ETB) training centres nearby. Out of 16 ETB training centres nationwide, this will be a unique opportunity for locals to access a mobile education hub.

The new energy and retrofit roadshow will be situated beside the following branches from 9am to 4pm per day, with SEAI representatives on hand from 10am to 2pm on the first day at each location:

• Chadwicks Carlow, 27^th and 28^th June
• Chadwicks Kilkenny, 1^st and 2^nd July
• Rooneys Home and Hardware, Kells, 4^th and 5^th July
• Chadwicks Dundalk, 11^th and 12^th July
• Chadwicks Tullamore, 15^th and 16^th July
• Chadwicks Galway City, 18^th and 19^th July

Commenting on the new energy and retrofit roadshow, Patrick Atkinson, CEO of Chadwicks said: ‘We are delighted to partner with the Education and Training Board and be able to provide a one stop shop for tradespeople and homeowners alike to discover new and valuable advice on the retrofitting process. At Chadwicks, we believe everyone should have simple access to professional guidance on retrofitting, and that is why we have strategically chosen the centre to be at branches where other fantastic home upgrade learning resources such as ETB training centres are not as close by. Visitors to the new centre can expect to experience unrivalled expertise and get all you need to know to start or complete a retrofit, done’.