Train with bio-based experts

We provide a range of training services in bio based construction skills. Whether you are looking for specialist retrofit installer training, want to learn how to cast Hempcrete on site, or need a bespoke training session for your construction team, we’d love to hear from you.

Practical Introduction to Conservation Retrofit

This 8 week course, delivered 1 day per week, introduces those working – or aspiring to work – within the growing retrofit industry to the principles and practice underpinning successful retrofit of traditionally constructed buildings.

The Practical Introduction to Conservation Retrofit course has been developed and written in partnership by two industry leading specialists, Nottingham Energy Partnership and UK Hempcrete, with funding from the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme. 

An Introduction to Hempcrete

Our 1- or 2-day introductory courses (hosted in various sustainability centres around the UK) offer groups of around 10-16 people the chance to:

  • find out about the hemp building industry
  • learn the important underpinning principles of using hempcrete
  • get hands on experience of constructing a hempcrete wall, including mixing and placing hempcrete, and applying finishes
  • get expert answers to questions about their own hempcrete project.

The courses are suitable for builders, home owners, architects or interested people. No prior knowledge is necessary. Keep an eye on our list of upcoming events below, or join our mailing list (form at the bottom of this page) to be notified of when courses are annoced.

On-Site Training

For a self-builder or building contractor new to hempcrete, who has a build starting soon, a bespoke on-site training package may be more appropriate. This will involve a member of UK Hempcrete visiting your site to provide training at the start of the build and throughout the build as necessary, to get your team to the point that you feel confident using the material.

This option has the following advantages:

  • bespoke training can be tailored to your exact needs
  • your whole team can be trained on site; a more cost-effective solution
  • training can be combined with hire of our specialist hempcrete mixer for your project.

To ask about bespoke training packages, or discuss your team’s training needs, contact us.

CPD

While architects, inspectors, planners and other industry professionals may well be interested in attending our practical training courses, others will have a more specific interest in the design considerations when using hempcrete, and the proper detailing of the material within a building.

As hempcrete becomes ever more widespread in the UK construction industry, with construction methods and specific hempcrete materials ever-evolving, many professionals choose to book a CPD training session to ensure that their whole team is kept up to date with the latest issues in hempcrete design.

To ask about CPD sessions for your practice, or discuss your team’s training needs, contact us.

Training

As well as having excellent sustainability credentials, hempcrete is a fun, lightweight, rewarding material to build with. Once a few important principles are understood, the technique of hempcrete mixing and casting should not be beyond the reach of any builder or competent DIYer.

However because the materials are by their very nature quite different from conventional building materials, there have been many instances where novice hempcrete builders, through lack of understanding, make simple mistakes (often with the detailing of the material, or the construction technique itself) which can cause unnecessary headaches on a build.

At UK Hempcrete we are keen for hempcrete to be used as much as possible, but it is important that builders develop the necessary skills and understanding to use it properly. To help disseminate quality information about the use of hempcrete in construction, we have co-written The Hempcrete Book, as well as provide training days to suit a range of needs and enquiries.

Practical Introduction to Conservation Retrofit

This 8 week course, delivered 1 day per week, introduces those working – or aspiring to work – within the growing retrofit industry to the principles and practice underpinning successful retrofit of traditionally constructed buildings.

The Practical Introduction to Conservation Retrofit course has been developed and written in partnership by two industry leading specialists, Nottingham Energy Partnership and UK Hempcrete, with funding from the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme. 

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Training Courses

Our 1- or 2-day introductory courses (hosted in various sustainability centres around the UK) offer groups of around 10-16 people the chance to:

  • find out about the hemp building industry
  • learn the important underpinning principles of using hempcrete
  • get hands on experience of constructing a hempcrete wall, including mixing and placing hempcrete, and applying finishes
  • get expert answers to questions about their own hempcrete project.

The courses are suitable for builders, home owners, architects or interested people. No prior knowledge is necessary.

Upcoming Events

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for news and updates about our upcoming courses and see details below. 

Learn everything you need to know about these innovative, 100% natural hemp blocks during our webinar “Building and renovating sustainably with hemp blocks”.

What is on the programme?

  •     Advantages and technical properties of hemp blocks
  •     Applications in construction and/or renovation
  •     Inspiration and references
  •     Practical information on the installation of hemp blocks
  •     Question and answer session

The webinar will be presented by our technical team. Registration is completely free but mandatory. We look forward to welcoming you there!

Register at the following link: WEBINAR REGISTRATION FORM

If you cannot attend the webinar but are still interested to find out more, please let us know so we can make an appointment with one of our experts. You can find out more about our Design Services here: UK Hempcrete Design Services.

We will be in Brighton again in June 2024 with our two day course held at the Brighton Permaculture Trust. The two day structure means a more in depth course, and we have time for theory sessions looking at hempcrete in new build and historic buildings, and number of practical sessions over the weekend.

The practical sessions give ample time for all participants to get hands on experience of all aspects of constructing a new build hempcrete wall (timber frame, shuttering, mixing and placing hempcrete, and lime plastering), as well as installing hempcrete in a historic timber frame panel.

Click here for booking and further information: https://brightonpermaculture.org.uk/hemp-lime-hempcrete/

For information about this, or any of our other courses, please contact us at training@ukhempcrete.com, or on 01629 343 143.

Nottingham Energy Partnership & UK Hempcrete presents Practical Introduction to Conservation Retrofit

Around 1/3 of UK homes are traditionally constructed. To make these buildings energy efficient and liveable for generations to come, we need to retrofit them in the right way, using suitable materials and techniques.

This 8 week course, delivered 1 day per week, introduces those working – or aspiring to work – within the growing retrofit industry to the principles and practice underpinning successful retrofit of traditionally constructed buildings.

Our 2023 courses were a great success, with 2024 dates to be announced soon. For information about this course and to register your interest, visit https://conservationretrofit.co.uk/

Our course at CAT is also a one day taster, but with a difference. Entitled Hempcrete: Retrofitting for Self-builders, it focuses solely on the use of hempcrete to add insulation to traditional and historic buildings, and provides a balance of theory and practical sessions. These give participants a basic understanding of the issues when using hempcrete in existing buildings, and also the chance to put their knowledge into practice; casting hempcrete against a solid wall and in a timber frame panel, as well as trying their hand at lime plastering.

For any queries about this particular course, please contact CAT directly, at courses@cat.org.uk or 01654 704966

 

We hope to soon announce a date for our Introduction to Hempcrete course at the Derbyshire Eco Centre. Make sure you register for training updates using the form on the right hand side of this page! 

The first course of the year will be a one day event held in Derbyshire at the county’s Eco Centre. The centre offers a high quality, enjoyable and supportive environment in which to learn the skills we need to lead lower carbon lifestyle.

This one day ‘Introduction to Hempcrete’ course gives participants an overview of hempcrete building in the UK today, and the basic construction process when using hempcrete in new build. The day will be filled with theory-based content and practical sessions. Giving participants a chance to handle, and get familiar, with hempcrete after having their questions answered.

For information about this, or any of our other courses, please contact us at training@ukhempcrete.com, or on 01629 343 143.

To automatically receive notification of new course dates as they are released, use our contact form to register your interest for our training updates.

Excellent tutor, great demos and hands on experience. Would do it again and fully recommend it!

Mr G (Eco Centre training course attendee)

I have been on many different training courses over the past 20 years, but this one is no doubt one of the best! Beautiful venue and surroundings, as well as the people involved. It is like a short holiday break where you can learn new skills!

Mr S (Brighton Permaculture Trust training course attendee)

Very informative, great course, highly recommend it!

Mr and Mrs Mc (Eco Centre training course attendees)

Alex’s teaching was first-class! I learnt more practical and usable information about this particular method of construction over the two days the course ran than I did about multiple building systems in two years of architectural school.

Mr O (Brighton Permaculture Trust training course attendee)

Click here to read an article written by one of our Brighton Permaculture Trust course attendees.

On-Site Training

For a self-builder or building contractor new to hempcrete, who has a build starting soon, a bespoke on-site training package may be more appropriate. This will involve a member of UK Hempcrete visiting your site to provide training at the start of the build and throughout the build as necessary, to get your team to the point that you feel confident using the material.

This option has the following advantages:

  • bespoke training can be tailored to your exact needs
  • your whole team can be trained on site; a more cost-effective solution
  • training can be combined with hire of our specialist hempcrete mixer for your project.

To ask about bespoke training packages, or discuss your team’s training needs, contact us.

You may also be interested in: CPD sessions