Professional/Short Course Achieving Zero Carbon Buildings - Skills Bootcamp

Entry year
2024/25
Course code
Z51000161
Application
University
Level
Professional/Short Course
School
School of Architecture and Environment
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
Twelve weeks
Delivery
On campus
Course Director
Dr Hector Archila Santos

Page last updated 12 October 2023

Introduction

Accreditations and partnerships:

  • Have you got an interest in sustainable buildings and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)?
  • Do you want to learn more about sustainability and net-zero carbon to enhance your role within the construction or engineering industry? 
  • Do you want to develop key communication, teamwork and digital skills that are a vital asset for a modernising construction industry?
  • Do you want to learn practical tools to make buildings energy efficient, carbon neutral and fit for the future?
  • Are you at a cross-roads and exploring other fields in which to develop your expertise?

If so, this bootcamp is the best place to start your journey!

Buildings are at the forefront of the UK's commitment to transition to a zero carbon society. The UK Construction sector needs to invest in skilling-up in areas such as: retrofit of existing building stock, modern methods of construction (MMC) and new technologies to deliver zero carbon where new roles are currently in demand. This bootcamp is aimed at those in the construction and engineering industries that want to develop and enhance their knowledge and understanding of how zero carbon in buildings can be achieved.

Bootcamp learners will learn about the climate change crisis and how delivering zero carbon buildings can contribute to meeting this challenge. Through diverse and hands-on learning activities they will gain an understanding of the role that modern methods of construction (MMC) and new digital technologies have in delivering zero carbon. The participants will gain real-world knowledge from case studies and live discussions with industry leaders. Furthermore, they will participate in an industry mentoring event with practitioners to explore what types of MMC and sustainability focused jobs are available within the construction market.

Skills Bootcamps are flexible courses giving successful applicants the opportunity to build up technical and soft skills which are essential to fast-track their career progression. They are being developed by the Government as part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, in partnership with employers, providers and local authorities, to help people develop the skills that are in demand in their local area and secure better employment. 

Who is it for?

Our Skills Bootcamp in Achieving Zero Carbon Buildings is aimed at organisations from the construction, engineering, and relevant sectors, looking to upskill their existing workforce to support business growth and employee career progression in sustainable buildings.

This bootcamp does not assume that learners will have any prior knowledge of the technical aspects of buildings. However, it assumes that you understand the construction and engineering sectors and that you want to become literate in how to achieve zero carbon buildings.

Benefits to employers

Employers in the construction industry require people ready to face the challenges of a changing sector that needs to rapidly modernise and decarbonise. Recently, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and the Construction Leadership Council have emphasised the use of industrialised manufacturing (MMC) and digital technologies as key to unlocking current competitiveness and sustainability issues in the industry. As such, the industry is in urgent need of individuals:

  • with knowledge and awareness of MMC and the required integration of a complex supply chain working under just-in-time conditions;
  • that are digitally literate and capable of working with Building Information Modeling (BIM);
  • with knowledge and awareness of best sustainable practice, how to measure carbon footprints and how to implement effective carbon and energy reduction measures in new and retrofitted buildings;
  • able to collaborate and be part of a team.

By upskilling your workforce through our Skills Bootcamp in Achieving Zero Carbon Buildings, employers will benefit from an able and ready workforce to tackle future challenges in sustainable buildings and contribute to business and sector growth.

Entry requirements

To ensure our bootcamp learners get the most from this opportunity, the following entry requirements apply.

Learners must:

  • Be working in the construction, engineering, or another relevant industry
  • Have their employers support to attend the bootcamp and apply the learning in their role within the workplace following the bootcamp

Alongside this, bootcamp learners must also meet the Department for Education's general eligibility requirements:

  • Be aged 19 plus
  • Not currently in full-time or part-time education
  • Have the right to live and work in the UK 
  • Live in England
  • Have not registered and attended (including partial completion) any other skills bootcamp in 2022 from any provider
  • Agree to provide mandatory personal data and supplementary information on their employment outcomes for up to 6 months following completion of the Skills Bootcamp.

Structure

Content

The bootcamp will cover the following themes across twelve weeks through weekly in person sessions at UWE's Frenchay Campus, Bristol:

  • Introduction to the Climate Change Challenge
  • Zero Carbon Building Design and Delivery Models
  • Retrofitting for Zero Carbon Buildings
  • MMC and Digital Technologies for Zero Carbon 
  • Effective Communication and Teamwork for Zero Carbon

The topics covered in the bootcamp will be addressed in weekly, interactive and participative sessions, complimented by an interactive learning workbook that will embed key pre-recorded materials, learning objectives and tasks for learners to complete to help consolidate their learning. This will be complimented with real-life case studies and a site visit.

Some of the tasks that you will need to complete will include reading, researching or preparing material for discussion as well as up-skilling on critical environmental software.

While there is no formal assessment for the bootcamp, learners will be asked to demonstrate their learning through a group professional presentation to tutors and industry partners, who will provide feedback. This will happen in the final weeks and the participants will be asked to apply their learning and demonstrate how to achieve zero carbon on a particular building scenario.

Each learner will also be expected to develop a personal portfolio across the delivery weeks to reflect on their learning and how they will apply this in their current / future career. 

Features

Professional accreditation

This course has been developed in partnership with the Skills for Life campaign.

All learners who successful complete the bootcamp will receive a digital badge from UWE Bristol demonstrating their learning.

Study facilities

UWE Bristol has invested significantly in online resources to support blended learning study. We use the 'Blackboard Collaborate' online platform to deliver an integrated learning experience to you and you also have access to a vast number of professional and academic journals and databases online through the UWE Bristol library. 

Find out more about the facilities and resources UWE has to offer.

Prices and dates

Supplementary fee information

Indicative bootcamp dates

This Skills Bootcamp currently has no funded cohorts available, please complete our expression of interest form to be kept informed of future opportunities.

SessionDateTimeLocation
Introduction to BootcampTBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol
Introduction to the Climate Change & the Net-Zero Carbon Building's ChallengeTBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol
Building Services & Zero CarbonTBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) for Zero Carbon (approaches and systems)TBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol
Site visitTBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol
Retrofitting for Zero CarbonTBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol
New Technologies for Zero Carbon (digital)TBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) for Zero Carbon (logistics and coordination)TBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol
Industry Symposium; Skills Development and MentorshipTBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol
New Technologies for Zero Carbon (MEP)TBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol
Learner presentations - How to Achieve Zero Carbon on Real Buildings?TBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol
Industry Symposium; Skills Development and MentorshipTBC09:30 16:30In-person at Frenchay Campus, Bristol

Bootcamp fees

Our skills bootcamp is heavily subsided by the DfE, with employers required to contribute the following fee per an employee:

ApplicantFee
Self-employed individuals£TBC
SME organisation contribution (per employee)£TBC
Large organisation contribution (per employee)£TBC

 

 

How to apply

How to apply

This Skills Bootcamp currently has no funded cohorts available, please complete our expression of interest form to be kept informed of future opportunities.

For further information

  • Email: Please complete the expression of interest form above.
  • Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 81043 (option 1, then option 3)