Bohemia Village Voice

“I’ve always been interested in renewable energy”, says Rob Layne, “and electronics, and getting power and heat from natural sources”. Rob has put his money where his mouth is and to date has invested £4,000 in his new venture: Co2efficient. “It’s a sort of mini-college offering a 2-day, £325 course in renewable energy awareness. We opened in July and have already had our first students through the doors”.
Rob teaches his course at The Innovation Centre, at Churchfields Estate. It is recognised by the British Plumbing Employers Council, who wrote the syllabus. “It’s the first of its kind in Kent & Sussex. Hastings College has been talking about a running a similar course for three years, but it hasn’t happened yet”. 
After an apprenticeship with Eldridge & Cruttenden, Rob did painting, decorating, carpentry and plumbing for a number of years. He later joined Hastings College as a workshop technician and eventually became head of the Building & Engineering Services Dept. But he resigned from his £36,000 job at the college last year: “I wasn’t happy there for the last couple of years – it felt like working in a pool of piranha fish”. 
 o Rob Layne was born at 20, Cornfield Terrace. When 4 years old he moved to number 40; he now lives at no. 7 which he bought about 9 years ago. Info: 07855 158446.