The National Archives has launched a new bursary to support “people seeking to grow their expertise in community heritage work”. The Bursary is limited - read the assessment criteria before applying. 

Bursary opportunity to grow your Passivhaus and Low Energy expertise for Community Heritage work

Retrofitting and adapting existing heritage buildings to become climate resilient low energy spaces is a must.
The certified Passivhaus methodology is a ‘Golden Thread’ to unravel the building fabric, trial by software proposed targeted interventions, and ensure the chosen interventions are undertaken with the specified material in the correct sequence with the third-party certification process.
<a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/">The National Archives</a> via their Spaces, Places and Belonging Community Hub is offering a new Bursary to grow expertise “to make innovation and learning from community-facing projects more sustainable, transferable, and
accessible” in the UK’s GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) and heritage sectors. Through a supportive funding structure and wider development programme, they aim to help communities and organisations share their work more widely and contribute to a growing body of knowledge that others can learn from and build upon.
Their Skills Bursaries provide grants of up to £1,000 for people seeking to grow their expertise in community heritage work. Open to applicants at any stage of their personal or professional journey, these bursaries can be used for training, mentoring, attending workshops, or other professional development activities related to heritage and community engagement to be determined by you.
Offered on a rolling basis, Skills Bursaries are designed to be accessible and responsive, helping to build confidence and capacity across the sector—particularly among those who may not have had access to such opportunities before.
<ul>
<li>Further information: <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/community-hub/skills-bursaries/about-this-grant/">About this grant</a> | <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/community-hub/skills-bursaries/">Skills Bursaries </a></li>
<li>Remember these bursaries are open to individuals working in <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/community-hub/what-is-community-heritage/">Community Heritage</a> and <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/community-hub/what-is-a-community-group/">Community Groups</a>.</li>
<li>Passmore Street - <a href="https://passivhaustrust.org.uk/projects/detail/?cId=68#.WP5zNKFrgj8">Case Study</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>Coaction courses that you may wish to explore to add to your heritage expertise:</h4>
Building to perform is easy—if you know how. Our 21 trainers, all practising professionals, will guide, up-skill and inform you through our comprehensive suite of courses:
Designers/Consultants: <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/bitesize">Bitesize</a> | <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/designer">Certified Designer</a> | <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/retrofit">Retrofit Delivery</a>
Clients Asset Owners: <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/bitesize">Bitesize</a> | Build to Perform Introduction (available 2026)
Site Managers and Contractors: Build to Perform Introduction | Intermediate (available 2026) | <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/tradesperson">Certified Tradesperson</a> | <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/retrofit">Retrofit Delivery</a>
None of these feels like the perfect fit! We offer bespoke training too.
Contact our support team to discuss your specific needs and we'll create something tailored for you. <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/support">CONTACT US</a>

OUR COURSES

Optimising window specifications, openings, and installation can slash risk, energy consumption, materials and carbon. Here's how.

Windows – Nothing to See Here! Part 1

Our director and trainer <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/people/sally_godber">Sally Godber</a> takes you on a deep dive into the hidden world of windows in this first instalment of our window series.
Windows are magical. They flood buildings with daylight, frame our views, and let fresh air flow through. But here's what most people miss: beyond these obvious benefits lies a treasure trove of opportunities to supercharge your building's performance.
I'm going to walk you through some of these opportunities, starting with a detail so small it's easy to overlook—yet so impactful it could transform your project. Let's talk about how a window actually sits in the wall.
<img src="/uploads/window_3.jpg" alt="">
<h3>It's All in the Detail</h3>
Here's a stat that might surprise you: in a typical block of 70 flats, the junction between windows and walls stretches for nearly two kilometres. Two kilometres! That's why this seemingly minor detail is actually one of the most critical construction junctions for energy performance in many buildings.
<h3>Get the Detail Right—Or Pay the Price</h3>
The stakes? A poorly designed junction can double the heat loss through your windows.
But here's the flip side: you could create a thermally perfect junction... that's so fiendishly complex it needs a master craftsperson to execute, which rarely matches reality on site.
The sweet spot? Understanding which factors genuinely impact performance, then marrying that knowledge with practical, buildable solutions. This is exactly the balance we teach across our courses—tailored to different levels of depth depending on your role and project needs.
<h3>PHPP Power: Evidence-Based Design That Saves Money</h3>
This junction detail is a real opportunity—and I absolutely love a bargain! Because this junction is so extensive, optimising it often delivers low energy performance at low cost.
PHPP and thermal bridge modelling are your secret weapons here (and yes, they're core components of our Passivhaus Designer Course). This is especially powerful in retrofit projects where design flexibility is limited.
Case in point: when we designed our office EnerPHit, carefully refining this detail allowed us to reduce wall insulation thickness by 50mm. Not massive, but enough to use standard stock insulation—saving money and simplifying procurement.
<img src="/uploads/window_5.png" alt="">
The proof is in the data. This graph shows ten different window-to-wall junction options we assessed in PHPP for a recent project. By comparing their calculated thermal performance against our hands-on experience of how they're actually built on site, we developed details that are both efficient and consistently buildable to a high standard.
<h3>Airtightness: Keep It Simple (Or Pay Later)</h3>
Alongside thermal performance, airtightness is critical at this junction—and one that can easily fall through the design-to-construction gap (pun intended!).
<img src="/uploads/window_6.jpg" alt="">
See this photo? All the right materials are there, but those complex shapes mean it'll take serious skill and time to make airtight—or result in questionable performance. Why did it end up like this? The brackets supporting the window sit proud of the reveal to accommodate tolerance between the structure and window frame. This minor decision creates a nightmare for airtightness.
But it doesn't have to be this way.
A huge part of our teaching for designers and contractors focuses on setting yourself up for success—making high-quality building easy to deliver.
<img src="/uploads/window_8.jpg" alt="">
Look at this window from a different project (Photo before airtightness tape is applied). The brackets are flush with the reveal, making installation super straightforward. Same function, radically simpler execution.
<img src="/uploads/window_9.jpg" alt="">
(Photo after airtightness tape is applied) This single change transforms airtightness from a gamble into a guaranteed success.
In our Passivhaus in Practice course, we explore typical site tolerances and show you how to design and build with them in mind—helping you avoid these pitfalls and deliver consistent, high-quality results every time.
<h3>Ready to Build Buildings That Actually Perform?</h3>
Building to perform is easy—if you know how. Our 21 trainers, all practising professionals, will guide and inform you through our comprehensive suite of courses:
For Designers: <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/bitesize">Bitesize</a> | <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/designer">Certified Designer</a> | <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/retrofit">Retrofit Delivery</a>
For Clients: <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/bitesize">Bitesize</a> | Build to Perform Introduction (available 2026)
For Cost Consultants: <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/bitesize">Bitesize</a> | Build to Perform Introduction (available 2026) | <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/retrofit">Retrofit Delivery</a>
For Site Managers and Staff: Build to Perform Introduction | Intermediate (available 2026) | <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/tradesperson">Certified Tradesperson</a> | <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/retrofit">Retrofit Delivery</a>
None of these feel like the perfect fit? We offer bespoke training too. Contact our support team to discuss your specific needs and we'll create something tailored for you. <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/support">CONTACT US</a>

Find out more

New Format, Same Rigour – Starting September with Coaction

Passivhaus Designer - Exam Update

Coaction Training CIC are adopting the new compact PHI Certified Designer Exam in September 2025
The Passive House Institute (<a href="https://passivehouse.com/">PHI</a>) has updated the Certified Designer exam which will now take 1.5 hours to complete – read on to learn more about our <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/designer">CERTIFIED PASSIVHAUS DESIGNER</a> taught by our network of experienced trainers and the new PHI exam which Coaction is offering in September.
Learn from those with direct experience - 3 of our 21 trainers <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/people/ann-marie_fallon">Ann-Marie Fallon</a>, <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/people/nick_grant">Nick Grant</a> and <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/people/sally_godber">Sally Godber</a> explain why undertaking Passivhaus training will have a big impact on how you design and deliver buildings <a href="https://youtu.be/cPwLdsshyBA">HERE</a>
<h4>Improved and updated course format</h4>
Starting in September, the Certified Passive House Designer and Consultant exam will be shortened from 3 hours to 1.5 hours. Despite the reduced duration, the exam will continue to cover all topics outlined in the PHI learning targets, and the certification’s high-quality standards will be maintained. Candidates will still need a minimum score of 50% to pass, that’s 40 points out of 80.
The shorter exam format aims to ease time pressure on students while retaining its technical rigour assessing design understanding.
<img src="/uploads/certification.png" alt="">
Instead of 31 questions, the new format will include 12 questions on key Passive House concepts such as windows, U-values, airtightness, PHPP, economics and ventilation. Most questions will be multiple choice, with a few involving calculations. The content has been revised to focus on the most relevant questions and eliminate redundancy.
<img src="/uploads/coaction_revision_only_vc010.png" alt="" title="Figure 1">
Figure 1
As before, the second part of the exam will feature three extended questions based on design examples. Students will be provided with plans, sections, and façade drawings that contain typical mistakes (Figure 1). They will be asked to identify accurate statements and recommend suitable components for each scenario.<a href="https://youtu.be/cPwLdsshyBA"></a>
The global community of certified Passive House professionals which continues to grow worldwide. Since 2007, over 16,800 Designers and Consultants have been certified, along with more than 10,200 Tradespeople since 2012.
<h4>Will you be the next to join them?</h4>
Join our <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/designer">CERTIFIED PASSIVHAUS DESIGNER</a> course to learn the art of designing high-performance, low-energy buildings with our internationally recognised Certified Passivhaus Designer Course.
Through a blend of live webinars, interactive tutorials, and self-study, you'll gain a deep understanding of the Passivhaus standard, building physics, and the essential elements of designing and detailing the building envelope and services. You'll also be introduced to Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) software, completing a
whole PHPP and understanding how to use it effectively to interrogate design.
You will be taught by the UK's leading Passivhaus experts - <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/team">OUR TRAINERS</a> are all highly-experienced practitioners actively working in the sector, who will share practical insights into best practices and real-world challenges. This course will teach you how to bring this learning to your projects in addition to thoroughly preparing you for the Certified Passivhaus Designer/Consultant exam.
<h4>What's included:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Live, online teaching sessions with our experienced trainers, plus additional tutorials</li>
<li>Ongoing access to all training materials, further resources and case studies on our learning platform for 2 years, to support you in applying your new-found knowledge to your work.</li>
<li>Hard copy training manuals that you can use during the exam.</li>
<li>FREE airtightness tapes to support your practical understanding.</li>
<li>FREE enrolment in the Passivhaus Institute’s Certified Passivhaus Designer exam</li>
<li>Our foundation course Bitesize Low Energy Design is included for FREE to get you up to speed with design essentials (usual cost £398)</li>
<li>FREE access to our Introduction to THERM self-study course (usual cost £180)</li>
<li>Discounts for follow-on training with Coaction, including Passivhaus in Practice and Advanced Retrofit Delivery Courses.</li>
<li>Access to our alumni group on LinkedIn to connect with your peers, ask questions and share best practice.</li>
<li>75 hours CPD</li>
</ul>
See course structure, fees, and dates <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/courses/designer">HERE</a>
<h4>Funding Opportunities</h4>
If you are a CITB Registered business, contractor, or sub-contractor the local Employers Network scheme can help you access a 70% grant to train, reskill and upskill your workforce in low energy and Net Zero construction practices. Read more <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/blog/2024/CITBfunding">HERE</a>
If you are based in Wales the Wales Flexible Skills Programme offers a 50% Grant for Developing Skills to Tackle Net Zero Challenges. Read more <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/blog/2024/Welshskillsfunding">HERE</a><a href="https://coaction.org.uk/blog/2024/Welshskillsfunding"> </a>
Spring Design took advantage of the 2025 scheme to upskill four of their staff in Net Zero Skills - Construction and Retrofitting of Residential Buildings. Read more <a href="https://coaction.org.uk/blog/2025/Welshskillsfundingbeneficiary">HERE</a>
<h4>What our recent Alumni say:</h4>
&quot;I now feel more confident when it comes to building fabric detailing and integrating services in projects. Having facts and data to back-up conversations with clients is also really helpful.&quot; Aurore Baulier, Architect, Certified Passivhaus Designer - Jan 2025
&quot;A couple of schemes I am currently working on in my day-to-day role are to low carbon designs and the sessions and lessons on thermal bridging, bypass and airtightness have been invaluable.&quot; Dewi Jones, Chartered Architectural Technologist, Certified Passivhaus Designer - Jan 2025
&quot;The breadth of learning was fantastic and have an overview of services design, construction practices and economics that I never expected. I would recommend it to anyone interested in sustainable architecture.&quot; Matthew Wilkins, Architect &amp; Sustainability Consultant, Certified Passivhaus Designer - Jan 2025
<h4>Further questions?</h4>
Please get in touch at hello@coaction.org.uk

Bath University

Cundal

East Ayreshire Council

ECD Architects

Edinburgh Council

Kier

Kingerlee

Royal Borough of Kesington and Chelsea

Southampton City Council

Stride Treglown

Willmott Dixon

Learn from the UK's Passivhaus experts

Practitioner-led Passivhaus training

Proud to be official partners of the Passivhaus Trust.

Training construction professionals to meet the climate emergency.

Now you understand the basics and you know there is a standard (Passivhaus) that enables all to build better - where next?

Build to perform: Passivhaus for Contractors (3 x 3hour) | Certified Passivhaus Tradesperson (3 hour refresher + 3 hour exam) | Passivhaus Practical - with BE-ST ( 1 day + 6 PHI points) | Retrofit Delivery
(4 x3 hour + 16 PHI points)

Publicise your projects and knowledge via the [Passivhaus Trust](https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/projects/), post on LinkedIn via your personal or
work profiles and [tag us](https://www.linkedin.com/company/coaction-training) - together we can build better.

Keep in touch we are here to support you.

Learn what good looks like, how to derisk your project, and what it takes to deliver real building performance on site. With demand growing for buildings showing real-world energy performance, we need outcomes to go beyond design intent. Discover key principles for success and practical advice to ensure airtightness is achieved effectively.

Build confidence with delivering high performance buildings.

Learn how to manage airtightness and avoid costly mistakes

Understand where the risk areas are and what you can do to reduce this.

Building to Perform: Intro

Building to Perform: Introduction

Now you understand the basics and the core elements -  and you know there is a standard (Passivhaus) that enables all to build better - where next?

Build to perform: Certified Passivhaus Tradesperson (3 hour refresher + 3 hour exam) | Passivhaus Practical - with BE-ST ( 1 day + 6 PHI points) | Retrofit Delivery (4x3 hour + 16 PHI points)

Publicise your projects and knowledge via the Passivhaus Trust, post on LinkedIn via your personal or work profiles and tag us - together we can build better.


Keep in touch we are here to support you.

Get it right on site. Learn how to plan, manage and deliver high-performance buildings with confidence — including airtightness, fabric, and project-risk control.

Learn to build economically and avoid costly mistakes on high-performance projects.

• Focused training on airtightness, fabric and services that delivers measurable results.

Designed for decision-makers and delivery teams working to standards such as Passivhaus, AECB, UKNZBS or NABERS.

Passivhaus for Contractors

Building to Perform: Passivhaus for Contractors

Becoming a Certified Passivhaus Designer/Consultant transforming will change your approach to sustainable design forever. Past course participants say  'once seen you cannot unsee'. 

Your certification lasts 5 years during which you will need to continue gaining knowledge to renew your certificate. This can be done by delivering a Passivhaus, taking further courses or development learning opportunities.

**Coaction courses ( PHI renewal points)**
Passivhaus Practical (6 PHI)|Retrofit Delivery (16 PHI)|THERM (16 PHI)


**Passivhaus Trust and member approved courses**
Certified Training | On Demand | Partner/Member Events


**Conferences / Communities / Events**
Passivhaus Trust | iPHA | AECB

Publicise your projects and knowledge via the Passivhaus Trust, post on LinkedIn via your personal or work profiles and tag us and join our online community here.

Keep in touch - we are here to support you.

Design for comfort, quality, and performance. Learn to design and detail building fabric and services for Passivhaus and high-performance buildings, use PHPP, and prepare for certification. “This course will fundamentally transform your approach to sustainable design, giving you knowledge which can be brought to every one of your projects, no matter the brief.”

Learn from leading practitioners Taught by the UK’s most experienced Passivhaus professionals, you’ll gain practical, real-world insight from experts actively delivering high-performance buildings.

Comprehensive, certification-ready content Cover everything from building physics and fabric/ services design to PHPP modelling and exam preparation — giving you the depth and confidence to design for comfort, quality and performance.

Condensed weekly scheduleAll learning fits into just 2 days per week Designed for busy professionals – a more flexible format that supports better focus, knowledge retention, and work-life balance

Certified Designer

Certified Passivhaus Designer

Congratulations now you understand the basics, core and have a certificate to prove it. Over the next 5 years you will need to collect 30 units of learning - renewal points to renew your certificate.

The Passivhaus standard enables all to build better - where next?

Passivhaus Practical - with BE-ST ( 1 day + 6 PHI points) | Retrofit Delivery (4 x3 hour + 16 PHI points)

**Passivhaus Trust and member approved courses**

[Certified Training](https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/certified_training_events.php) | [On Demand](https://passivhaus.uk/) | [Partner/Member Events](https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/partner_events.php)

**Conferences / Communities / Events**

[Passivhaus Trust](https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/our_events.php) | [iPHA](https://cms.passivehouse.com/en/ipha/events/) | [AECB](https://aecb.net/past-conferences/)

Publicise your projects and knowledge via the [Passivhaus Trust](https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/projects/), post on LinkedIn via your personal or work profiles and [tag us](https://www.linkedin.com/company/coaction-training) - together we can build better.

Keep in touch we are here to support you.

Gain recognised accreditation and confidence in tackling Passivhaus and high performance projects, understanding what quality is required and how to achieve it.

Learn a fabric-first, low-energy building approach tailored for the UK. 

Delivered live online over manageable 4 × 3-hour sessions — flexible & supportive format for busy contractors.

Earn internationally recognised PHI Certified Passivhaus Tradesperson qualification.

Certified Tradesperson

Contractor & Certified Passivhaus Tradesperson

Exclusive for Coaction Training CIC Alumni and Students!  Join our expert trainers live as they share insights from 12 real-world Certified Passivhaus, deep retrofit, and EnerPHit projects they've worked on. Earn 1 PHI point for every live session you attend!

Trainer Case Studies 2025

Coaction Trainer Case Studies - Webinar Series 2025

This introductory level course explores sustainable construction design through lessons learnt from Passivhaus, offering a quality-assured route to achieving healthy, high performance buildings, with a focus on reducing energy use, while also addressing embodied energy and construction waste.

Gain practical design advice to ensure value from any project.

Explore the key early stage design decisions that have the biggest impact in shaping comfort, energy use and real world performance.

Understand what good looks like for fabric and services design.

Bitesize

Bitesize Low Energy Design

Are you a Built Environment Lecturer looking to future-proof your career? Coaction Training CIC is excited to announce a specially discounted Passivhaus Designer summer course open to all UK university students and academics in built environment disciplines!  This course will fundamentally transform your approach to sustainable design, giving you knowledge which can be brought to every one of your projects, no matter the brief. Join our community of Certified Passivhaus Designers and become a catalyst for positive change in the construction industry.

Lecturer Designer Course

Passivhaus Designer for Lecturers

Are you a Built Environment student looking to future-proof your career? Coaction Training CIC is excited to announce a specially discounted Passivhaus Designer summer course open to all UK university students in built environment disciplines!  This course will fundamentally transform your approach to sustainable design, giving you knowledge which can be brought to every one of your projects, no matter the brief. Join our community of Certified Passivhaus Designers and become a catalyst for positive change in the construction industry.

Student Designer Course

Passivhaus Designer for Students

For contractors and building professionals in Cornwall, this in-person training offers a unique opportunity to upskill in low energy construction techniques that play a pivotal role in delivering Passivhaus and other high-performance building standards such as Cornwall Council's Net Zero policy for new homes.

Our new programme Design Performance for Climate Action aims to equip all UK architecture students to tackle the climate emergency.                                

Passivhaus for Universities

Passivhaus in Practice is a hands-on course at BE-ST, Scotland, designed to bridge the gap between design and construction. Using life-size training rigs, it builds the practical skills needed to deliver high-performance, low-energy buildings. The course is accredited by the Passivhaus Trust and is worth 6 PHI credit points towards certification renewal.

Practical

Passivhaus in Practice

Gain the knowledge needed to deliver successful deep fabric retrofits on-site to PAS 2035. This course focuses on the practical challenges and best practices in retrofit projects, equipping you to manage unforeseen changes and ensure quality.

Retrofit Delivery

Learn how to use THERM software to understand 2D thermal bridges and generate Psi-values, through this self-study course worth 16 PHI Credit Points, which can be completed at your own pace.

THERM

Introduction to THERM

Fascinating course so far, I am already feeling a lot of things falling into place.

I particularly appreciated the in-depth discussions on the importance of building performance data. The instructor's expertise and passion for sustainability were also inspiring, and I left the course with a clearer vision of how to implement these principles in future design work. – Michael Johnston (Q9 Cladding Solutions Ltd)

I really enjoyed the course and what's more, many of my clients are very intrigued by the whole concept and are looking to embrace it.

Architect

Alan McKay

Testimonial - Bitesize Passivhaus Course

&quot;The Bitesize course is very helpful to reassess basic design approach to any project, small or large.&quot;

Retrofit Programme Manager

Amy Somerville

Testimonial - Retrofit Delivery

&quot;A great refresher on building physics. I enjoyed applying this to the in depth case study and detailing discussions on risks, benefits, buildability and sequencing whilst hearing about others' experiences and creative solutions.&quot;

Associate

Antonietta Canta

&quot;The course really opened my eyes about the real challenges of retrofit works compared to desktop design solutions, such as space available for insulation and sequencing of works.&quot;

Learn from the UK's Passivhaus experts

Practitioner-led Passivhaus training

Proud to be official partners of the Passivhaus Trust.

Training construction professionals to meet the climate emergency.

Popular Passivhaus courses

Certified Passivhaus Designer

Contractor & Certified Passivhaus Tradesperson

Bitesize Low Energy Design

Latest Blog Posts...

Bursary opportunity to grow your Passivhaus and Low Energy expertise for Community Heritage work

Windows – Nothing to See Here! Part 1

Passivhaus Designer - Exam Update

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