Hello all

I currently work within sustainable building and have done for 5 years. Before that I was a small time house developer (refurbs) and landlord. I find myself looking to move into consultancy, particularly within the design and specification stage. Part of my current employers organisation is a consultancy, and I find myself almost daily answering calls and emails to the consultants on various design issues, as well as my own clients and on site. I feel I have the knowledge and understanding, both in theory and on site practically. Scottish based, so this may have an impact.

My issue is persuading potential future employers (or go self-employed) that I do have the skills. I have researched various routes and opportunities to certify myself in some areas, and am looking at:

CIBSE - Low Carbon Consultant (Design) - simple course and assesment, nice title to have !
BRE/Stroma et al - CSH assessor - expensive, narrow field of 'use' but opens up many other possibilities.
BRE - BREEAM assesor - expensive, narrow field of 'use' but opens up many other possibilities, will CSH overtake it in some areas?
AECB - Carbon Lite - great course (the best it seems), expensive, lacking in commercial opportunity?

It seems the CIBSE one is worth doing immediately - it is 'cheap' and gives me a nice title, and I am confident I can pass having done the online trial paper and got all but one question correct.

CSH vs BREEAM - should I see it this way? both courses have commercial opportunity and employers seem to like. It *seems* CSH is the 'future'....

Any other suggestions, thoughts, ideas of 'routes' in welcome!

Please forgive the annonymity, I don't want to rock the boat with current (fantastic) employer.

Thank you.

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