The UK Centre for Mould Safety (UKCMS) National Training Academy has today opened its doors to upskill and improve competence, consistency and safety across all industries that serve homes and buildings, in a drive to support public health outcomes.
The new national academy will provide tiered training and recognised learning pathways for professionals working in housing, surveying, property management, building maintenance, retrofit and remediation with a strong focus on evidence-led practice, health-informed decision-making, and preventing harm to staff and occupants, particularly those who are vulnerable.
Lisa Malyon, Co-founder of the UK Centre for Mould Safety (UKCMS), launched the service in October 2025, a month before Awaab’s Law came into force for social landlords. Her own near-death experience of pneumonia caused by water-damage, damp and mould has spurred on her efforts to protect others.
She comments: “Our academy has the capacity to upskill every tradesperson in the UK, urgently putting more boots on the ground, equipped, and safe in the knowledge they are identifying and fixing the cause before safely removing the mould once and for all.
“The academy opening marks the end of the repetitive and unsafe ‘chemical wash and stain block’ treatment status quo, which has downplayed the health risks associated with this far too common biological hazard.”
Route to mould-free buildings
UKCMS believes the route to mould-free buildings is a clear national baseline of competence in mould assessment and remediation, underpinned by training and practical skill development in line with the industry standard of care that prioritises process over products.
Ryszard Jankowski, Technical Director at the UKCMS comments on the launch: “The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) already state what is required when dealing with hazardous substances and biological agents in the workplace - including how to assess risk, control exposure and protect occupants and workers. The required laws exist, but very few people are aware of the practical implications and associated guidance.
“Few are aware of the standard of care expected in water damage and mould remediation, or how the law and guidance apply on-site. That gap between what’s known and what’s done increases risk unnecessarily. In cases of microbial activity in a home or public place, the consequences of getting it wrong can be severe for the workers and anyone affected by the work.”
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The UKCMS works with organisations to deliver tailored programmes and internal competence-building for local authorities, housing associations, NHS-linked teams, schools maintenance managers, universities and facilities managers of public buildings.
Availability and access
The UKCMS Training Academy will deliver programmes through a mix of online learning, classroom teaching and practical portfolio assessment. Pathways will be available for:
- ● Surveyors and inspectors
- ● Remediation contractors and trades
- ● Housing officers and repairs teams
- ● Environmental health and enforcement teams
- ● Letting/estate agents and property managers
- ● Retrofit and energy efficiency professionals
- ● Clinicians and allied health professionals supporting housing-related illness
Four-stage training programme
Stage 1 - Hazard Awareness
Stage 2 - Safe Systems of Work
Stage 3 - Operations and Planning
Stage 4 - Water Damage Restoration / Applied Microbial Remediation
The Academy will also provide refresher training and professional development for experienced practitioners seeking to be compliant with the safest standards.
Mould remediation start-ups
In the interest of increasing the safe supply of service providers, the UKCMS welcomes new entrants to the market and will support individuals to become professional mould surveyors and remediators to meet demand.
The UKCMS is home to the mould-safe code - 10 pillars of safe practice. Tradespeople are invited to take the pledge to follow the code when working in homes and public buildings.
A register of individuals who have taken the mould-safe pledge and fully-trained mould remediation professionals are listed here.
The UK Centre for Mould Safety is a community interest company that produces and provides free technical advice guides to the general public.
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