Winning larger retrofit and construction contracts increasingly depends on one thing: whether your team holds the accreditations and qualifications procurers require before you're even allowed to bid. PAS 2030 certification, TrustMark registration, Retrofit Assessor and Retrofit Coordinator qualifications, and site-level NVQs are no longer optional extras — for many housing association, local authority and public sector tenders, they're the entry ticket. Businesses without them aren't losing on price or track record. They're not getting to bid at all.
Building that capability costs money and takes time, and for many growing contractors, that's exactly what keeps larger contracts out of reach. A new Welsh Government subsidy scheme changes that equation: the Key Priority Support Scheme (Housing, Retrofit and Construction) can fund up to 100% of the training costs needed to get your team qualified — closing the gap between where your business is now and the tenders you want to be eligible for.
The Problem This Funding Solves
Procurement frameworks across housing associations, local authorities and the wider public sector increasingly specify minimum competency requirements before a contractor can even submit a tender. Retrofit-specific requirements under PAS 2035 — including named, qualified Retrofit Assessors and Retrofit Coordinators — are becoming standard practice, not the exception. Without the right qualifications sitting within your team, capability and price never get evaluated, because the tender door doesn't open.
It isn't only public sector procurers applying this bar. Tier 1 contractors delivering large retrofit and construction frameworks are increasingly requiring the same training and certification evidence from their subcontractors and supply chain before awarding work. That means even businesses that never bid directly for a public tender can be shut out of lucrative supply chain opportunities without the right accreditations in place.
This scheme exists to remove the cost barrier standing between your business and that accreditation, so growth is limited by ambition, not by what training budget you can find this year.
What Is the Key Priority Support Scheme?
The Key Priority Support Scheme (Housing, Retrofit and Construction) is a Welsh Government subsidy scheme, published under subsidy reference SC11524, running from 20 May 2026 to 5 April 2027. It exists specifically to support "a healthy and competitive workforce in the housing, retrofit and construction sectors" by funding the cost of upskilling employees, delivered as a direct grant in collaboration with the Welsh Government's existing Flexible Skills Programme (FSP).
How Much Funding Can You Get?
The scheme can fund up to 100% of eligible training delivery costs. "Up to 100%" is a ceiling, not a guarantee — funding decisions are discretionary, and the exact rate awarded may depend on your application. Even so, this is a considerably more generous rate than the Flexible Skills Programme's standard 50% contribution, reflecting the priority Welsh Government has placed on this sector.
The overall funds available are limited, and the scheme runs to a fixed timeline, closing 5 April 2027. Businesses considering this route should act now rather than wait — once the funding is committed, it's committed, and there's no guarantee it will still be available later in the scheme's lifetime.
Is Your Business Eligible?
Two separate eligibility tests apply, and both need to be met.
Your company must be based in Wales and operate in an eligible sector — construction, education, electricity/gas/steam/air conditioning supply, professional/scientific/technical activities, or real estate activities. There's no restriction on business size: sole traders and large contractors can both apply, provided they operate in one of these sectors.
Each employee you want trained must personally work in Wales for 51% or more of their time, in any given 12-month period. This is assessed individually, not company-wide — so if your business is Wales-based but some staff regularly work across the border, each of those individuals needs to clear this threshold in their own right before their training can be funded.
What Training Qualifies for Funding?
The scheme covers accredited training and qualifications relevant to the housing, retrofit and construction workforce, including the core competency roles that underpin PAS 2035 retrofit delivery and the site-based qualifications procurers look for when assessing your team:
- Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) qualifications
- Retrofit Assessor diplomas
- Retrofit Coordinator qualifications
- NVQs across retrofit, insulation and wider construction site supervision and management
Each of these plays a direct role in tender eligibility — from PAS 2035 competency requirements to recognised site supervision standards. If your business already holds, or is working towards, PAS 2030 certification or TrustMark registration, this funding can directly support the training needed to build and evidence that standard across your team.
Why Act Now, Not Later in the Year
Qualifications take time to complete — Retrofit Assessor and Coordinator diplomas and NVQs aren't turned around in a week. Businesses that start now will be tender-ready before competitors who wait until a bid deadline forces the issue. Combined with a limited scheme budget and a fixed closing date of 5 April 2027, the practical risk of waiting is real: either the funding window closes, or the budget is already committed to earlier applicants.
How NetRet Group Can Help
NetRet Group delivers PAS 2030 and TrustMark certification and training across the retrofit sector, working with SMEs, housing associations and local authorities. Rather than applying to the scheme directly yourself, we start by gathering your training needs through a short enquiry form. From there, we provide you with the relevant course details and a formal quotation, which you use to complete your funding application.
Don't let a training budget decide which tenders you can bid for next year. Complete our short training needs enquiry form today — we'll provide the course details and quotation you need to apply, before the funding is gone: [LINK]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Key Priority Support Scheme?
It's a Welsh Government subsidy scheme (reference SC11524) that funds training for employees in the housing, retrofit and construction sectors, delivered through the Flexible Skills Programme.
How much of my training costs can be funded?
Up to 100% of eligible training delivery costs, subject to Welsh Government's discretion on the final award and the funds remaining available.
Which businesses are eligible?
Wales-based businesses operating in construction, retrofit, housing and related sectors, of any size, provided the individual employees being trained also meet the Wales-working-time requirement.
What training courses are covered?
Accredited and industry-recognised qualifications, including Domestic Energy Assessor, Retrofit Assessor, Retrofit Coordinator, and NVQs relevant to retrofit and construction.
Will this help my business win more tenders?
Many housing association, local authority and public sector retrofit contracts require accredited staff — Retrofit Assessors, Retrofit Coordinators, PAS 2030-certified teams — before you can even submit a bid. Funded training removes the cost barrier to meeting those requirements, opening up contracts currently outside your reach.
How do I apply?
Start by completing NetRet Group's training needs enquiry form. We'll provide you with the relevant course details and a formal quotation, which you then use to complete your funding application through the Flexible Skills Programme route.
This article reflects published Welsh Government scheme guidance as at August 2026. Funding is discretionary and subject to Welsh Government approval. NetRet Group recommends confirming current eligibility and process details before making business decisions based on this funding.
Sources
Key Priority Support Scheme: Housing, Retrofit and Construction – GOV.WALES (https://www.gov.wales/key-priority-support-scheme-housing-retrofit-and-construction)
Flexible Skills Programme – Business Wales (https://businesswales.gov.wales/topics-and-guidance/employing-people-and-improving-skills/recruit-and-train/flexible-skills-programme)
