Supply Chain Advice Pack: Practical steps to partner with Works and Training Organisations
Introduction
Works and Training Organisations (WATOs) are community based organisations that combine hands-on training, pastoral support, and real-world supervised work experience. Unlike traditional training that emphasises classroom learning, WATOs prepare participants for retrofit employment by offering progressive exposure to live site environments, while maintaining safety, supervision and learning-focused conditions.
The UK retrofit sector faces a significant labour shortage, with an estimated 400,000+ additional workers needed by 2030 to meet national net-zero and fuel-poverty commitments. Works and Training Organisations (WATOs) provide a structured, supported route for new entrants who might otherwise face barriers such as; lack of knowledge or experience, low confidence, limited access to tools, equipment, transport, unfamiliarity with construction environments and caring responsibilities or flexible-working needs. WATOs help supply chain organisations build larger, more representative, and more resilient workforce while meeting social value commitments.
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