Fife College has won the country’s most prestigious sustainability skills award for its pioneering Net-Zero Retrofit Skills course, developed in partnership with The Verdancy Group.
The course took top spot in the Next Generation Learning and Skills category at the UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards. Fife College was recognised for its innovative approach to tackling the growing need for retrofit training and sustainable skills.
Launched last year, the programme was created to help address rising energy costs and sustainability challenges. Fully funded by Opportunities Fife, and delivered at the College’s Dunfermline and Levenmouth campuses, the hands-on workshops equip participants with practical skills to improve home energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and tackle fuel poverty – helping to build stronger, greener communities across Fife.
Fife College was also recognised in the Student Engagement category at the awards, with its ‘CampusCast: Showcasing Sustainability’ podcast named as a finalist.
Created by Fife College media and communications graduate Sharrell Carroll, the podcast explores key climate issues through engaging interviews and discussions, showcasing the creativity and leadership of students in sustainability. Following the success of its debut, a second series of CampusCast has now been launched, continuing to share inspiring sustainability stories from across the College and beyond.
Jim Metcalfe, Fife College Principal, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to see the Net-Zero Retrofit Skills course win the Green Gown Award. This fantastic achievement highlights our commitment to tackling real-world sustainability challenges. It’s great to see Fife students and workers winning plaudits on the national stage.
“By working with The Verdancy Group and Opportunities Fife, we’re helping people across our communities gain the skills and confidence to make practical changes that reduce energy use, lower carbon emissions, and support Scotland’s journey to net-zero.
“It’s also great to see Sharrell recognised for her brilliant work on CampusCast, an initiative which continues to spark conversations and inspire others to take action on climate issues.”
Steven Kiakowski, Director of Green Skills at The Verdancy Group, said:
“This award highlights what can be achieved through regional partnership work when education, industry, and local support come together with a shared goal.
“Working in partnership with Fife College, and thanks to funding from Opportunities Fife, through the ESES City Region Deal's IRES Programme, we’ve been able to equip learners with the practical skills needed to make homes warmer, safer and more energy efficient.
“This collaboration is not only helping to tackle fuel poverty across our communities but is also creating the skilled workforce Scotland needs to meet its net-zero ambitions.”
As part of its wider work to develop green skills across Fife and beyond, the College also recently supported What No Gas Boilers? What Heat Engineering Jobs Will Look Like in the Future – an event organised by Fife Climate Hub and Local Storytelling Exchange in partnership with Fife College, SNIPEF, The Verdancy Group, and IMS Heat Pumps.
The free workshop and panel discussion explored the future of heat engineering, focusing on low-carbon technologies and the new skills required for a changing industry.
Established in 2004, the Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges. With sustainability moving up the agenda, the Awards have become established as the most prestigious recognition of best practice within the further and higher education sector.
The Green Gown Awards are administered by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), and a local cross-agency steering group governs each region. The judging panel are represented by sector organisations relevant to each area.
The 2025 UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards were held at The Library of Birmingham on Thursday, 6 November.
Photograph: (l to r) - Robert Stevenson, Lecturer - Construction Trades & Low Carbon Transition at Fife College, Lucy Jackson, Sustainability Coordinator at Fife College and Steven Kiakowski, Director of Green Skills at The Verdancy Group, are pictured with the Next Generation Learning and Skills Green Gown Award at the College's Dunfermline City Campus.