In this episode, we explore how effective procurement can help organisations deliver better outcomes from retrofit and decarbonisation programmes. Claire Brown is joined by Oliver Mooney, Head of Category at Fusion21, to discuss how procurement frameworks can be used as more than simply a route to market.

Oliver shares his experience of public procurement, construction and the built environment, exploring how frameworks can support housing providers and local authorities to achieve value for money while also delivering wider environmental, economic and social benefits. The conversation covers the importance of robust specifications, cost certainty, understanding supply chain capacity and capability, and building strong relationships with suppliers from the outset.

The episode also considers how procurement can help create lasting value in local communities, including opportunities for SMEs, employment and skills development, while supporting the growth of the retrofit workforce needed to deliver projects at scale. Looking ahead, Claire and Oliver discuss the future of retrofit, the importance of developing a sustainable supply chain, and the potential for public investment to help establish a workforce capable of supporting wider domestic retrofit.

Oliver concludes by sharing practical advice for organisations considering their procurement routes, emphasising the importance of focusing on outcomes rather than simply completing a procurement process. From understanding what success looks like to measuring what really matters, this episode offers  insights for organisations looking to maximise the impact of their retrofit programmes and make the most of public funding.

For further information visit: www.fusion21.co.uk

This podcast is an informal discussion between interested parties associated with Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise. Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and do not seek to represent the government.

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Claire Brown is joined by Jack Ostrofsky and Zung Nguyen from Warmer Homes London to examine how London can scale up home retrofit and create warmer, healthier and more energy efficient homes. They discuss why retrofit is particularly important for London, from fuel poverty and rising energy costs to the challenges of adapting the capital’s older, densely built housing stock in response to extreme weather and climate change.

Jack and Zung share insights from Warmer Homes London’s pan London approach, bringing together local authorities, housing associations, contractors and other partners to overcome fragmented delivery and improve efficiency. They explore the importance of long term planning, better data, streamlined resident journeys and collaboration across borough boundaries.

The episode also looks at the practical lessons emerging from retrofit delivery at scale, including the importance of putting residents first, reducing drop-off and aborted costs, improving property data, and using smart meters and IoT sensors to understand the impact of retrofit measures.

The episode highlights a central message: successful retrofit is about more than decarbonisation. It is about helping people live in homes that are warmer, healthier, more comfortable and affordable to run.

For further information visit: www.warmer-homes.london

This podcast is an informal discussion between interested parties associated with Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise. Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and do not seek to represent the government.

There are a number of webinars, masterclasses and followup events available for free right now through RISE. Please visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find the right event for you.

Claire Brown is joined by John Taylor, Publications Manager and Technical Specialist at BSRIA, to explore airtightness testing and the wider role of performance testing in retrofit.

John shares insights from more than 20 years in building services and explains why airtightness has become an increasingly important part of building performance. The conversation explores how airtightness affects energy efficiency, comfort, moisture and indoor air quality and why good ventilation is essential when improving the airtightness of a home.

The episode also looks at the practicalities of testing, including when airtightness tests should be carried out, why establishing a baseline can be valuable, and how testing can help identify issues before they become costly to rectify.

Claire and John discuss the wider lessons the retrofit sector can learn from previous projects, including the importance of moving beyond a tick box approach towards measuring and verifying actual building performance.

The key message is simple: test, measure and understand the building before, during and after retrofit. By identifying assumptions and unknowns, and building a clear testing strategy into project planning and contracts, retrofit providers can improve quality, reduce risk and deliver better outcomes for residents.

Whether you are a local authority, housing provider, retrofit professional, contractor or simply interested in improving the performance of your home, this episode offers practical insights into why testing should be an integral part of successful retrofit delivery.

For further information: www.bsria.com/uk

This podcast is an informal discussion between interested parties associated with Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise. Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and do not seek to represent the government.

There are a number of webinars, masterclasses and followup events available for free right now through RISE. Please visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find the right event for you.

Clare Brown is joined by Chloe Gordon and Daphne Baldi from Citizens Advice Manchester to explore the vital role advice centres can play in making social housing retrofit fair, accessible and effective.

Their conversation looks at how residents often approach advice services with immediate concerns such as unaffordable energy bills, cold homes or fuel poverty, rather than with retrofit in mind. Chloe and Daphne explain how trusted, impartial advice can help address these immediate challenges while opening up conversations about longer-term solutions such as insulation, heat pumps and solar panels.

The importance of making retrofit information accessible by avoiding technical jargon and explaining new technologies in straightforward, relatable ways is also explored. The guests discuss how advice centres can help residents understand their options, navigate grants and schemes, recognise potential risks and protect themselves from poor practice or rogue traders.

Collaboration is another key theme, with Citizens Advice Manchester sharing how strong relationships with local authorities and other organisations can help residents successfully access retrofit support.

For further information visit:

www.citizensadvicemanchester.org.uk

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

This podcast is an informal discussion between interested parties associated with Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise. Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and do not seek to represent the government.

There are a number of webinars, masterclasses and followup events available for free right now through RISE. Please visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find the right event for you.

Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Kris Karslake, Sustainability Policy and Programme Manager at Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, to explore the challenges and opportunities of retrofitting historic and heritage homes. Drawing on lessons from the Retrofitting the First Garden City project, the conversation considers how communities can be brought along on the journey towards decarbonising older homes while respecting their character and heritage.

The episode highlights the importance of taking a long term, whole home approach to retrofit, considering planned improvements such as kitchens, bathrooms and extensions as opportunities to incorporate energy efficiency and low carbon measures. Kris also discusses practical actions available to homeowners and renters, from improving heating controls to introducing shading measures that can reduce overheating and reliance on air conditioning. The discussion emphasises that successful retrofit is not simply about installing new technology, but about understanding people, place and individual circumstances. Ultimately, the episode offers valuable lessons for creating a more sustainable future for historic communities while ensuring residents are part of the process.

For further information visit: 

www.letchworth.com

www.letchworth.com/news/retrofitting-the-first-garden-city-a-feasibility-study

This podcast is an informal discussion between interested parties associated with Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise. Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and do not seek to represent the government.

There are a number of webinars, masterclasses and followup events available for free right now through RISE. Please visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find the right event for you.

Claire Brown speaks with Alice Hallam, Head of Retrofit Services at Community Home Solutions, about the practical realities of managing and coordinating retrofit programmes.

Drawing on Alice’s experience across retrofit assessment, coordination, design and delivery, this episode explores the importance of effective communication, stakeholder management and collaboration throughout the end-to-end retrofit process. Alice shares insights from projects on the ground, including how understanding individual customer needs can make a meaningful difference to outcomes.

The episode also highlights the importance of bringing everyone involved in a retrofit programme together around shared goals, particularly delivering quality installations and ensuring happy customers. 

For further information visit: www.communityhomesolutions.co.uk

This podcast is an informal discussion between interested parties associated with Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise. Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and do not seek to represent the government.

There are a number of webinars, masterclasses and followup events available for free right now through RISE. Please visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find the right event for you.

Claire Brown is joined by Jade Lewis, Chief Executive and Consultant at Jade Advocacy, to explore how cross-sector collaboration can help turn housing policy into meaningful action.

Jade shares her journey into advocacy and the retrofit sector and explains how she works with government departments, local authorities, industry and parliamentary groups to influence policy around energy efficiency, housing, construction, health and wellbeing.

Their conversation explores why effective advocacy is about more than responding to existing policy. Building relationships, engaging early and bringing together a strong collective voice can help shape policy and keep healthy, sustainable homes on the agenda.

Jade also discusses the importance of looking beyond carbon reduction alone. With increasingly varied weather conditions, housing policy and retrofit must consider health, wellbeing, comfort and resilience alongside energy efficiency.

This podcast is an informal discussion between interested parties associated with Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise. Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and do not seek to represent the government.

There are a number of webinars, masterclasses and followup events available for free right now through RISE. Please visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find the right event for you.

In this episode, host Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Dr Victoria Tink, co-founder of Klimatica and a leading expert in energy efficiency, thermal comfort and overheating risk. Drawing on her experience developing UK Building Regulations, Victoria explores why creating comfortable homes throughout the year is a fundamental part of successful retrofit, and why overheating should be considered alongside energy efficiency from the earliest stages of project design.

The conversation examines practical strategies for improving thermal comfort, from reducing solar gains through thoughtful glazing and shading design to maximising natural ventilation and ensuring homes remain safe, secure and easy for occupants to manage. Victoria also highlights the importance of providing residents with clear guidance on how to operate their homes effectively, helping retrofit projects deliver healthier, more comfortable living environments that are resilient to both winter cold and increasingly warmer summers.

For further information contact: www.klimatica.co

This podcast is an informal discussion between interested parties associated with Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise. Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and do not seek to represent the government.

There are a number of webinars, masterclasses and followup events available for free right now through RISE. Please visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find the right event for you.

In this episode of the RISE Retrofit Information Support and Expertise podcast, Claire Brown is joined by Russell Smith, Director at Cotality, to explore the vital role of asset management in delivering successful large-scale retrofit programmes. Drawing on his experience in decarbonisation, data, and infrastructure asset management, Russell explains how a structured, data-driven approach helps organisations make informed decisions about maintaining, upgrading and operating building assets while supporting long-term decarbonisation goals.

The episode explores how effective asset management can improve project planning, optimise investment, and reduce complexity across retrofit programmes. Russell also discusses the importance of high-quality data, long-term thinking, and integrating asset management into organisational strategy to maximise building performance and resilience. The conversation offers practical insights for housing providers and retrofit professionals looking to strengthen their approach to asset management and deliver more effective, sustainable retrofit outcomes.

For further information visit: www.cotality.com/uk

This podcast is an informal discussion between interested parties associated with Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise. Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and do not seek to represent the government.

In this episode, Claire Brown is joined by Tom Woolley, Director of Low Carbon Residential at SMS Energy, to explore the role of blended funding in delivering retrofit at scale. Drawing on SMS Energy's experience of deploying millions of smart meters through private infrastructure investment, Tom explains how similar funding models can be used to accelerate the rollout of technologies such as solar PV, battery storage and heat pumps without relying solely on public funding.

The discussion examines how private finance can complement government grants, helping social housing providers and local authorities deliver retrofit projects more quickly while supporting local supply chains and engineering workforces. Listeners will gain practical insights into innovative funding approaches that can unlock large-scale decarbonisation and help meet ambitious retrofit targets across the UK.

For further information visit: www.smsenergy.com

This podcast is an informal discussion between interested parties associated with Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise. Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and do not seek to represent the government.

There are a number of webinars, masterclasses and followup events available for free right now through RISE. Please visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find the right event for you.