Lloyds Banking Group has partnered with the Green Finance Institute to fund a six-month scholarship scheme designed to train mortgage professionals in financing energy-efficient home improvements.
The programme will fund 300 enrolments for mortgage intermediaries and a further 100 places for colleagues across Halifax and Birmingham Midshires, including business development managers and specialist support teams.
Participants will complete the Green Finance Institute’s newly developed Certificate in Financing Greener Homes, a digital learning programme designed to strengthen knowledge of green home finance and the funding of energy-efficient upgrades.
The initiative comes as government prepares to introduce its Warm Homes Plan, which will include measures intended to help households finance improvements that reduce energy bills and improve comfort.
LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE HOME LENDING
By funding the scheme, Lloyds Banking Group will remove the upfront cost of the course for participating intermediaries while also training its own teams in an area of growing importance for borrowers.
The certification programme builds on the Green Finance Institute’s LIBF-accredited Certificate in Green Mortgages training masterclass, which is being expanded into an on-demand, self-paced digital course designed for larger groups of advisers and lenders’ in-house teams.
The programme aims to equip advisers with the technical knowledge required to discuss energy-efficient home improvements and financing options with clients, as well as broader insights into the evolving green mortgage market.
Andrew Dean, head of housing and sustainability at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “The majority of all mortgages go through a mortgage intermediary. They play a crucial role in the provision of green mortgages, and the finance of energy efficient home improvements.
“Training that builds on a recognised qualification can only be a good thing.
“By supporting the intermediary sector’s understanding of this area of growing interest for borrowers, we can help drive increased customer awareness, positive outcomes and increased uptake of green home finance products and services.”
Chloe Timperley, green mortgage campaign lead at the Green Finance Institute, added: “A wave of policy changes is on the horizon to help homeowners make energy-efficient home improvements, and the finance sector will have a key role to play.
“The market has already grown rapidly, from only a handful of green mortgage offerings six years ago to more than 90 today, alongside a tripling of unsecured green loans in three years.
“The critical next step is increasing take-up. That depends on advisers being equipped to have meaningful, everyday conversations with homeowners that help them navigate their options.
“This training partnership helps position the market to respond confidently to the evolving needs of households.”
John Somerville, director of financial services at LIBF, part of Walbrook Institute London, said: “We’re proud to support this new scheme by the Green Finance Institute and Lloyds Banking Group. We’ve accredited the GFI’s Certificate in Green Mortgages since 2024, helping advisers upskill their knowledge to support clients in making energy-saving upgrades.
“It’s fantastic that thanks to this scheme, hundreds more mortgage advisers will now be able to increase their awareness of this important area of lending.”
