The Green Finance Institute (GFI), in collaboration with the Scottish Government, is launching its Certificate in Green Mortgages training programme in Scotland.

Designed to equip mortgage and property professionals with the knowledge needed to drive green home financing, the initiative aims to accelerate home decarbonisation and align Scotland’s £13.8 billion mortgage market with net zero targets.

With buildings responsible for 13% of Scotland’s carbon emissions and 30% of energy consumption, improving home energy efficiency is critical.

Yet, research from Mortgage Advice Bureau found that only 3% of advisers believe their clients fully understand green mortgages, while 63% say their clients have never heard of them. Given that brokers facilitate 89% of transactions, their role in educating consumers on green finance is crucial.

ENHANCE EXPERTISE

Building on the success of its England and Wales programme, the GFI Certificate in Green Mortgages (Scotland) is designed for those in the home financing sector looking to enhance their expertise in green lending.

The training is accredited by the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) and offers CPD certification upon completion.

Chloe Timperley, GFI’s Green Mortgage Campaign Lead, said the programme will help embed sustainability into mortgage advice, ensuring borrowers understand energy-efficient home financing options.

“Scotland’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2045 makes it a natural next step for our Green Mortgage Certificate,” she said.

“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.”

LOW-CARBON HOMES

And acting Minister for Climate Action Dr Alasdair Allan MSP emphasised its role in supporting Scotland’s transition to low-carbon homes.

He said: “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.”

VITAL STEP

While Gordon Reid of LIBF praised the initiative as a vital step in demystifying green finance for brokers.

“For many mortgage brokers, the subject of green finance remains shrouded in mystery,” he said.

“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.”