The Green Finance Institute (GFI), in collaboration with the Scottish Government, is expanding its pioneering Certificate in Green Mortgages training programme to Scotland.
The aim is to support mortgage and property sector professionals to bridge the knowledge gap in green home financing, and mobilise the Scottish and wider UK mortgage markets – worth £13.8 billion and £240 billion a year respectively – towards a greener built environment.
With buildings accounting for 13% of Scotland’s total carbon emissions and 30% of total energy consumption, tackling home energy efficiency is critical to achieving net zero targets by Scotland’s target of 2045.
However, research from Mortgage Advice Bureau found that only 3% of advisers believe their clients fully understand green mortgages, with 63% claiming that their clients haven’t even heard of them. Mortgage brokers facilitate 89% of transactions, highlighting the crucial role they play in educating consumers on green home finance options.
SHAPING THE FUTURE
Building on the success of its programme geared towards advisers in England and Wales, the new GFI Certificate in Green Mortgages (Scotland) is aimed at anyone working in or alongside the Scottish home financing sector looking to expand their expertise in an area that is shaping the future of mortgage advice in Scotland.
It also aims to engage clients in higher-value conversations about home efficiency and financing options as well as future-proof their business by staying ahead of regulatory and market developments.
The training is accredited by the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) and is eligible for CPD certification upon successful completion of a timed assessment.
NET ZERO DRIVE
The development of this training programme is part of GFI’s wider work in Scotland, which includes collaboration with the Scottish Government on delivering recommendations from the Green Heat Finance Taskforce.
Chloe Timperley, who leads the delivery of the training as GFI’s Green Mortgage Campaign Lead, said: “Scotland’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2045 makes it a natural next step for our Green Mortgage Certificate.
“Conversations about sustainability and energy-efficient home upgrades need to become a standard part of every advice journey, ensuring that all borrowers understand the options available to them.
“Guided by the leadership of the Scottish government, green mortgages are an essential part of ensuring Scotland tackles its built environment emissions and energy use.”
KEY STEP
Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Acting Minister for Climate Action, added: “The development of Scotland’s green finance sector is crucial to delivering a fair, resilient, and energy independent future in the built environment.
“This new training programme is a key step in ensuring mortgage professionals have the tools they need to help homeowners and landlords finance the transition to low-carbon, energy-efficient homes, a change which will help deliver health benefits and energy bill savings for individuals as well as supporting delivery of wider net zero targets.”
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
And Gordon Reid, Learning & Development Specialist at the London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF), said: “For many mortgage brokers, the subject of green finance remains shrouded in mystery.
“The GFI Certificate in Green Mortgages is an invaluable tool in educating brokers and enabling them to have effective conversations about green finance options with their customers.
“Here at LIBF, we are delighted to accredit the training in recognition of the quality of the learning materials and its contribution to the continuous professional development of advisers.”
