Brokers looking to complete the Green Finance Institute’s (GFI’s) Certificate for Financing Greener Homes can apply for a new scholarship funded by Lloyds Bank to gain skills to help them advise customers on green home improvements.
The scholarship will fund 300 intermediary enrolments and 100 enrolments for the lender’s own teams.
The certificate involves six months of study and will train mortgage professionals on how to finance green improvements such as insulation and solar panels.
Help with government initiative
The initiative follows recent government announcements on the forthcoming Warm Homes Plan, which will include a package of measures to help households finance improvements that cut bills and boost warmth and comfort in the home.
The plan was announced in January and the government said that as part of it, it would “work with the finance industry to develop a range of products suitable for different consumers and different technologies.
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The government said some people may wish to increase their current mortgage and others will need a separate loan.
“All products will be supported by government funding to significantly lower the cost of the loans for consumers,” the government announcement in January said.
Key role to play
Chloe Timperley, green mortgage campaign lead at the GFI, said the finance sector would have a “key role to play” in the new Warm Homes Plan.
“The critical next step is increasing take‑up. That depends on advisers being equipped to have meaningful, everyday conversations with homeowners that help them navigate their options. This training partnership helps position the market to respond confidently to the evolving needs of households,” she said.
The GFI said the certificate would help advisers to expand their expertise, engage clients in energy-efficiency conversations and join a network of professionals leading the green mortgage market.
It will also help them to future-proof their business by staying ahead of regulatory and market developments, the group said.
Andrew Dean (pictured), head of housing and sustainability at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “The majority of all mortgages go through a mortgage intermediary. They play a crucial role in the provision of green mortgages, and the finance of energy-efficient home improvements. Training that builds on a recognised qualification can only be a good thing.”
“By supporting the intermediary sector’s understanding of this area of growing interest for borrowers, we can help drive increased customer awareness, positive outcomes and increased uptake of green home finance products and services.”
