As we approach ‘World Green Roof Day 2022’ #WGRD2022 on 6th June, we thought it was a good time to revisit the Green Roofs training suite and share details of how you can get your training journey underway.
Since 2018, Lantra has worked with industry representatives to create a suite of assessed training for Green Roofs Installers. Most recently we collaborated with Chris Bridgman of The Green Roof Organisation (GRO) and Natural Resource Wales on a co-funded development to produce an online course for new entrants to the Green Roofs sector, which was launched to coincide with World Green Roofs Day in June 2021.
The course covers areas including the history of green roofs, types and benefits, planning and structural design and maintenance of installations. It also looks at how the sectors can continue to develop. Adapted from the existing Introduction to Installing and Maintaining Green Roofs course, it is aimed at people who want to develop their understanding of concept, design, installation and maintenance of green roofs. To find out more and how to enrol visit our website, An Introduction to Green Roofs.
We all know how vital education and training is, but at times throughout the last couple of years it looked like all training bets were off. However, the adversities faced due to coronavirus restrictions, sparked creative thinking and collaborative work amongst educational establishments, training providers and employers pushing land-based training further than any of us would ever have imagined.
Lantra is one such education establishment that has pioneered new online e-learning training courses and approaches, working in conjunction with trade association such as GRO. These new courses continue to enable individuals and businesses to access essential introductory training remotely from their office or own homes. The levels of interest and enrolments for the ‘blended’ delivery in this area has shown great adaptability and engagement from the sector – all you need to get started is a laptop, Wi-Fi and the desire to learn!
The full Green Roofs suite including face to face and practical training courses was launched in phases from 2018 through to 2020 and has seen good levels of interest from industry employers and installers alike. By progressing through the suite, installers can gain a recognised certificate of competence as a Green Roofs Installer, and is the only industry training route that provides the opportunity to work towards a LISS/CSCS card in green roofing. Information on the courses and how to progress can be found on the GRO website, Training | Green Roof Organisation.
Covering topics including blue roofs, biosolar, pitched, shaped and curved roofs as well as maintenance regimes and techniques, the training is open to architects, specifiers, estimators, installers, contractors or complete newcomers. To find Lantra approved national training providers offering these courses, visit the courses pages, Lantra Green Roofs suite
David Fisher, Head of Industry Partnerships at Lantra said ‘every day we are seeing the demands for training and CPD changing, and it was great for this to be embraced through the co-funded development of e-learning between Lantra, Natural Resource Wales and GRO. Lantra worked closely with Chris Bridgman to provide what is the perfect introduction to the Green Roofs Installation training suite. It highlights how closely GRO and its members have worked to provide access to knowledge and training to ensure we meet the ongoing need through challenging times’.
Moving forward, training continues to change and there has never been a better time to take the advice of Dr John G Hibben – ‘Education is the ability to meet life’s situations’ and boy has the educational activities of our industry had to meet those situations in the last couple of years!
