Lloyds Banking Group has partnered with the Green Finance Institute (GFI) to fund a scholarship scheme for mortgage industry professionals to complete the GFI's newly-developed Certificate in Financing Greener Homes.
The Lloyds Banking Group-GFI funding partnership will build industry capability to support homeowners with energy efficient home upgrades, providing professional training for 300 mortgage intermediaries and 100 Lloyds Banking Group colleagues across Halifax and Birmingham Midshires, including BDMs and specific support teams.
For the Certificate in Financing Greener Homes, the GFI will transfer and augment its LIBF-accredited Certificate in Green Mortgages training into an self-paced, digital learning programme.
The certificate is designed to provide the technical knowledge and market insights needed to help mortgage advisers expand their expertise, engage clients in higher-value conversations about home energy efficiency and financing options, and future-proof their business by staying ahead of regulatory and market developments
The initiative follows recent government announcements on the forthcoming Warm Homes Plan, which will include a package of measures to help households finance improvements that cut bills and boost warmth in the home.
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, commented: “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, added: “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.”
