Green Skills Academy officially opened to equip workforce for a low-carbon future
We have worked with many industries including public, private and the volunteer sectors and we encourage individuals and businesses to get in touch to see how we can help.” Jemma Parsons, Head of Green Skills Academy
Coleg Sir Gâr has officially opened its Green Skills Academy at Gelli Aur campus which aims to equip individuals and the workforce with the skills required to help drive the transition to a sustainable and low-carbon future.
The Green Skills Academy, is a brand-new facility delivering specialist training in renewable energy including environment sustainability, energy and carbon management, renewables and retrofit.
Its aim is to play a vital role in addressing skills shortages and preparing the workforce for careers that support environmental resilience and economic growth.
It is also an Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) Centre which is a globally recognised status.
Many of the courses are funded for eligible individuals through Personal Learning Accounts (PLA), UK Shared Prosperity Funding or ReAct Plus.
The facility was officially opened today (Friday, 26 September 2025) by Anne Davies, MP for Carmarthen and Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability.
The renovation was funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) and the Green Skills Academy offers a range of courses teaching both practical and theory across all industries, from installation of renewable technology and drone pilot licensing to energy assessment.
Amongst other systems, the Green Skills Academy houses three photovoltaic systems, including south- and north-facing arrays, all linked to a 10kW battery and smart hot water diversion, which means that every unit of clean electricity is stored or used, not wasted. Heating is provided by a 6kW air source heat pump, feeding an underfloor system laid on limecrete and recycled foam glass and ideal for historic stone walls and flood mitigation has been built into the design.
Jemma Parsons, head of the Green Skills Academy at Coleg Sir Gâr, said: “We are thrilled to be officially launching our new facility and we’d like to thank everyone who has supported the project and its official opening.
“The Green Skills Academy has one clear vision: to equip people with the skills for the jobs of a low carbon future.
“We want to ensure Carmarthenshire, and Wales, have the skilled professionals needed for decarbonisation, retrofit, energy management and ultimately energy security. This is about giving people the opportunity to learn skills that upskill their careers that are vital for our environment.
“This is not just a renovation. It’s a living classroom - an example of sustainable construction and renewable energy in practice. From solar panels and battery storage, to underfloor heating powered by a heat pump, natural insulation materials, modern ventilation, and flood resilience measures - everything here has been designed to teach as well as to function.
“We have worked with many industries including public, private and the volunteer sectors and we encourage individuals and businesses to get in touch to see how we can help.”
