The Building Podcast
Mark Wakeford is Chairman of the National Federation of Builders, vice-chair at Constructing Excellence Midlands and a Governor at Construction College, Moulton College. He has run a large regional building contractor and now chairs Evoenergy, one of the UK's foremost renewable companies, bringing low carbon solutions to corporate Britain.
Mark talks to leading experts from across the construction sector to discuss issues facing the built environment. He explores various challenges with his guests, who offer solutions, information and ideas that listeners can apply to their own situations, be it in a company, on a project or studying at college.
The Building Podcast aims to provide CPD on the go. Supporting the sector with easily digestible ideas to support a rapidly changing industry!
The Building Podcast
Mark talks to Ian Rippin
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The Solar Taskforce, an industry / Government collaboration has been in existence since May 2023, working with both Governments to see how solar generation can be rapidly deployed to support the de-carbonisation of the electrical grid and the UK’s statutory net-zero target for 2050. I have been privileged to serve on this taskforce with many of the industry’s big hitters as we have identified blockers and solutions, with our partners at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and co-authored the Solar Road Map, which was recently published.
These podcasts with senior leaders who were on the Taskforce and other movers and shakers who influence the sector aim to inform and explain the Solar Road Map to support its understanding and to provide context to its recommendations.
Residential solar held a special place in the work of the taskforce. Not only can it provide one GW or more of generation each year towards our target of circa 50GW by 2030, it also helps the public understand renewables better and enables a change of behaviour as people become more aware of the costs and the way to manage their energy use. This area of the Taskforce’s work was heavily influenced by Ian Rippin, the CEO of the Micro-generation Certification Scheme, MCS, who leads on certification and arbitrates on fairness and quality between industry and the public on schemes under 50KW.
Ian is passionate about the potential for solar to change lives, both for those who have solar installed on their roofs and for those who chose to come into our sector to install and maintain these installations. With over 4,100 companies signed up to MCS, a number that is growing at between two and three companies each business day, Ian is understandably confident that residential solar will play a massive part in the overall net-zero strategy for the UK. He is also a great advocate for training across the spectrum to ensure both a quality delivery, but also competent organisations undertake the work. He supports the future leaders programme, that seeks to give young managers the skills and confidence to lead the sector in the years to come.
Website: https://mcscertified.com/