Ryan FowlerUK Centre for Mould Safety has opened its National Training Academy, setting out to upskill professionals across housing, surveying, property management, building maintenance, retrofit and remediation, with a focus on protecting public health and improving safety outcomes.
The new academy will deliver tiered training and recognised learning pathways designed to establish a consistent national baseline for mould assessment and remediation.
The programme emphasises evidence-led practice, health-informed decision-making and the prevention of harm to both workers and occupants, particularly those who are vulnerable.
The launch follows the creation of UKCMS in October 2025 by co-founder Lisa Malyon, shortly before Awaab’s Law came into force for social landlords. Malyon’s work in this area was shaped by her own near-death experience after developing pneumonia linked to water damage, damp and mould.
“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,” Malyon said. “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.”
UKCMS argues that achieving mould-free buildings requires a clear national standard of competence, underpinned by training that prioritises correct process over product-led solutions.
The academy is intended to close what the organisation sees as a persistent gap between legal requirements and on-site practice.
Ryszard Jankowski, technical director at UKCMS, said that existing regulation already sets out how hazardous substances and biological agents should be handled, but that awareness and application remain limited.
“The Health and Safety Executive 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,” he said. “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.”
He added that the consequences of poor practice can be severe. “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.”
Alongside open training routes, UKCMS will work directly with organisations to deliver tailored competence-building programmes.
These include support for local authorities, housing associations, NHS-linked teams, schools maintenance managers, universities and facilities managers responsible for public buildings.
