clockwise from front - Griff Thomas, Tony Knowles -
solar installer, and potential solar customer,
Ian Mellish

AS our society looks towards cleaner sources of future energy supplies a Yorkshire Dales based company is all set to exploit the rush for "green" energy and break into the potentially very profitable renewable technology market.

Thanks to a £1500 business development grant from Richmondshire District Council, Hawes based GTEC Training is adding a range of renewable technology training to its existing list of courses.

"With ever increasing fuel bills, and the even greater importance of being 'carbon neutral', more and more people are looking to install things like solar panels, ground source heat pumps or even wind turbines, in order to keep costs down and help lower the environmental impact", explains Griff Thomas, owner of GTEC Training, located at the town's industrial estate.

"The technology, and the market, is evolving constantly and contractors need to be able to keep up with developments in order to meet the demand, as well as needing an industry recognised qualification to obtain government grants and manufacturers' support."

The company currently runs City and Guilds electrical courses from its base and at client's locations, working with companies such as British Nuclear Fuels Ltd and the Electrical Contractors' Association.

In the new year, courses on fitting solar hot water, including the much sought after unvented domestic hot water certificate (G3), will be available. Geothermal, wind power and bio-fuel technology qualifications will follow once the courses are approved by the relevant trade associations.

"We are pleased to be able to award GTEC this grant, and very happy to support businesses in Upper Wensleydale", says Richmondshire's Assistant Economic Development Officer, Matt O'Neill.

"The grants and loan schemes run by the Council are designed to help firms expand and promote their operations in order to exploit opportunities and develop their business."

In the last two years the District Council has helped 34 local businesses, with grants and loans in excess of £75,000, and has committed a further £11,000 this year. For more information, contact Matt O'Neill on 01748 829100, or e-mail m.o'neill@richmondshire.gov.uk