RISE podcast
Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise (RISE) is a Government-backed, expert-led service offering free training, guidance and support to social housing providers and local authorities. These podcasts share insights, good practices, and lessons learned from domestic retrofit and Warm Homes projects. They are intended for informational purposes only and do not endorse specific suppliers or products.
Episodes
Energiesprong in practice
In this episode, Claire Brown is joined by Emily Braham, Strategy and Operations Director, and Emmelie Brownlee, Head of Communications at Energiesprong UK, to explore how retrofit can be scaled up to deliver warmer, healthier, more energy efficient homes. Drawing on a decade of experience in the sector, they discuss the lessons learned from retrofit projects in the UK and the Netherlands, and why
Professional recognition for those in retrofit with Society for the Environment
Claire Brown is joined by Phil Underwood from the Society for the Environment to explore the importance of professional recognition in driving positive change across the retrofit and sustainability sectors. Phil explains what it means to become a Chartered Environmentalist, how professional registration demonstrates competence, ethical practice and a commitment to continuing professional developme
The retrofit sphere with CIOB
Claire Brown is joined by Amanda Williams, Head of Environmental Sustainability at the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), to explore what a truly holistic approach to retrofit looks like. They discuss why retrofit needs to consider the whole building as a system, bringing together energy efficiency, carbon reduction, building condition, ventilation, resilience, occupant comfort, health and we
Best practice in procurement with Fusion 21
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, ex
Retrofit for London - supporting the capital
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
The importance of retrofit testing with BSRIA
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 energ
The importance of advice centres with Citizens Advice Manchester
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. Chl
Retrofit Testing with Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation
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 decarbonisin
Insights into retrofit management on-the-ground: coordinating end-to-end retrofit projects with Community Home Solutions
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 re
Shaping housing policy with Jade Advocacy
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, ho
Thermal comfort all year round with Klimatica
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 alo
Optimising management of assets for long-term retrofit projects with Cotality
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 or
Blended funding with SMS Energy
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
Training future retrofit workers with Capital City College
In this episode, host Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Mishary Alfahad, Head of the Green Academy at Capital City College, to discuss the growing retrofit sector and the skills needed to build a future-ready workforce.Drawing on his experience in employability, skills development and green training, Mishary shares how education providers are helping people access careers in retrofit through pract
Heat pumps in retrofit schemes
Claire Brown is joined by Stevie Mardy, Key Account Manager at Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions, to explore the growing role of heat pumps in retrofit projects.Stevie shares insights from working with housing associations and local authorities to deliver low carbon heating solutions, discussing the practical opportunities and common challenges of installing heat pumps in existing homes. T
Retrofit guides for residents
Host Claire Brown explores the importance of retrofit guides for residents through a case study from Stoke Climsland Parish Council in the South West of England.Claire is joined by Richard Davies, Vice Chair of Stoke Climsland Parish Council and Chair of its Carbon Zero Committee, who discusses the council’s work to support whole-house retrofit across the parish. The conversation introduces the lo
HPA UK, the heat pump market and what's to come
In this episode, Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK), and Laura Bishop, Co-Chair of HPA UK. The discussion begins by introducing the newly formed organisation, which brings together three previous trade bodies to provide a single voice for the sector. HPA UK works with government and industry to improve standards, support insta
Transition from ECO to Warm Homes with InstaGroup
In this episode, host Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Ed Andrews, Commercial Director at InstaGroup, to explore the transition from the ECO and GBIS funding schemes to the government's new Warm Homes Plan.Drawing on InstaGroup's extensive experience in retrofit delivery, Ed discusses how the sector is adapting to a fundamentally different operating model that places greater emphasis on whole hou
The importance of ventilation with Farmwood
Adam Armour-Florence speaks with Nathan Wood, Managing Director of Farmwood, about the growing importance of indoor air quality and building health in the drive towards more energy-efficient homes.Nathan shares insights from over two decades working across residential and commercial ventilation systems, discussing how retrofit projects can succeed or fail depending on whether ventilation is proper
Retrofit Credits with HACT
In this episode, Claire Brown is joined by Antoine Pellet, Head of Retrofit Credits at HACT, to explore how social landlords can unlock additional funding from retrofit projects through the Retrofit Credits programme. The conversation examines how retrofit measures such as insulation, solar panels and heat pumps can generate verified carbon credits, alongside measurable social value linked to impr
LGBTQ+ focused resident engagement
Host Claire Brown is joined by Jack Mason, LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Coordinator at Stonewall Housing, and Sarah Willcox-Jones, Property Services Improvement Specialist at L&Q, to explore the importance of inclusive resident engagement within retrofit programmes.The episode highlights the unique housing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ residents, including safety concerns, isolation, discrimination and
Community Health Impact Assessments (CHIAs) with the National Retrofit Hub
Claire Brown from Turner & Townsend is joined by Sara Edmonds, Co-Director of the National Retrofit Hub, to explore the growing importance of community health in retrofit delivery.The conversation focuses on Community Health Impact Assessments (CHIAs) and how they can help local authorities, housing providers and communities better understand the relationship between housing, neighbourhoods an
Measurement matters: navigating retrofit with data with Knauf
In this episode, host Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Christopher Price, Technical Development Manager at Knauf Installation, and Nick Johansen, Commercial Director at Knauf Energy Solutions, to discuss why data measurement is becoming critical to successful retrofit delivery for housing providers.The conversation explores the growing gap between EPC assumptions and the real world thermal perfor
The importance of coaching with Glee Coaching
In this episode of the RISE Podcast, Claire Brown speaks with leadership coach Barbra Carlisle of Glee Coaching about the critical role leadership and coaching play in delivering successful retrofit programmes.The episode explores how retrofit leaders can navigate ambiguity, manage complex teams, support behaviour change and create psychologically safe environments where people feel heard and empo
Learning from data insights with Acuity
In this episode, Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Sean Brennan, Benchmarking and Corporate Director at Acuity Research & Practice, to explore how data and insight can strengthen retrofit delivery across the housing sector.With over 17 years’ experience in local government and social housing, Sean shares practical perspectives on using benchmarking, resident satisfaction data and service perfo
U-value measurement with Build Test Solutions and Energy house Labs
In this episode, host Claire Brown is joined by Richard Fitton from Energy House Labs at University of Salford and Richard Jack from Build Test Solutions to explore how we measure the real world thermal performance of buildings.Focusing on U-values, the conversation unpacks why traditional ‘calculated figures often fall short, and how in situ measurement is transforming our understanding of heat l
Retrofit Success Guides with SHAP
In this episode, Adam Armour-Florence introduces the Retrofit Success Guides, developed in collaboration with Sustainable Housing Action Partnership (SHAP). The discussion explores how these guides aim to support organisations delivering retrofit projects by providing structured, practical and evidence-based approaches.Guest Poonam Sakarsudha shares her background in communications, highlighting t
International collaboration for retrofit
Host Adam Armour-Florence speaks with Stephen Fernandez, Director and Global Building Retrofit Leader at Arup, to examine how international approaches can inform more effective, scalable programmes across the UK. Drawing on over 25 years of global experience, Stephen shares insights from leading retrofit projects and working across multiple regions.Key themes include the role of international coll
The importance of communication in retrofit
In this episode, host Claire Brown explores the vital role of communication in delivering successful retrofit programmes. Joined by communications specialist Polly Buckland and Andy Piper, Head of Sustainability at VIVID, the discussion explores why clear, accessible and resident focused communication is essential across every stage of retrofit projects.Polly and Andy share practical strategies to
The importance of 3rd party guarantees
Host Adam Armour-Florence is joined by industry experts Andrew Champ and Mitch Gee from SWIGA to explore the critical role of third-party guarantees in retrofit projects.Drawing on decades of experience in construction and external wall insulation, the guests unpack what 3rd party guarantees are, why they matter, and how they protect both homeowners and project stakeholders. The discussion highlig
The importance of putting people first with TPAS
The importance of putting people first with TPASIn this episode, host Claire Brown is joined by Kai Jackson from TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service) to explore why putting people first is essential in retrofit and housing projects. Drawing on lived experience as a social housing tenant and sector leader, Kai shares powerful insights into meaningful resident engagement, the importance of c
Healthy homes, healthy lives: what the research shows
In this episode, host Claire Brown explores the vital connection between housing and health. Joined by Dr. Faye Sanders, a doctoral researcher at the University of Bath, the conversation dives into how the quality of our homes directly impacts both mental and physical wellbeing.From common issues like damp, mould and overcrowding to broader environmental factors such as access to green space and t
Integrating retrofit into asset management
Host Adam Armour-Florence speaks with Rafe Bertram, Asset Retrofit and Sustainability Manager at Enfield Council. They explore how retrofit can be effectively integrated into asset management within local authorities and housing providers.Rafe shares insights from his career from architecture and private practice to working within the public sector, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of
Challenges of being a Retrofit Coordinator
Jonathan Newton is joined by Jessica Scott, Retrofit Manager at Procast, who brings over five years’ experience delivering retrofit projects across social housing and private consultancy. Drawing on her experiences working both client side and in coordination roles, Jessica shares insights into managing compliance, navigating evolving regulations and ensuring retrofit projects achieve their intend
Mastering data management with Energy Saving Trust
Host Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Sean Lemon, Head of Digital, and Dai Grady, Data Scientist and Consultant at Energy Saving Trust. Drawing on their experience supporting local authorities and housing providers across the UK, Sean and Dai share practical insight into how digital tools, analytics and structured data approaches can strengthen retrofit planning and delivery. The discussion focus
Dealing with refusals in retrofit with Midlands Rural
Claire Brown is joined by Adam Boam, Tenant Liaison Officer at Midlands Rural Housing, to explore one of the most common challenges in retrofit delivery: managing resident refusals. Drawing on his experience supporting Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund projects, Adam shares honest, practical advice on engaging tenants, building trust and addressing concerns before they become barriers.From insta
Retrofit reimagined: lessons from Aura's evolution
In this episode, host Claire Brown is joined by Gary Robinson, Managing Director of Aura Retrofit. Together they discuss Aura’s evolution from a traditional plumbing and heating business into a leading provider of whole house, low carbon retrofit solutions.Gary shares his personal journey from gas engineer to retrofit specialist, discussing lessons learned along the way, the realities of grant fun
Decarbonising heat with heat batteries
Clare Brown is joined by Iain Duncan, Business Development Director at Tepeo, to discuss the role heat batteries can play in decarbonising housing stock at scale. The conversation introduces heat battery technology in a clear, accessible way, outlining how it works and why it is gaining attention as a low-carbon heating option for retrofit programmes. With a focus on the realities faced by housing
Retrofit realities: powered by modelling software
Claire Brown welcomes Niall Gibson, Head of Sales at IES, to discuss the practical realities of delivering retrofit projects using building performance modelling. This episode focuses on how data-driven tools can support better planning, reduce uncertainty and create clearer pathways for decarbonising existing buildings at both project and portfolio scale.With more than 15 years’ experience workin
Little House of Retrofit with Southern Housing
In this episode, Claire Brown speaks with Jo Butterfield, Sustainability Engagement Lead at Southern Housing, about the Little House of Retrofit project and the critical role of resident engagement in successful retrofit delivery. Jo shares insights from over 20 years of experience working directly with residents across supported housing, community services, and retrofit programmes, highlighting h
Navigating retrofit through tenant liaison with First Choice Homes Oldham
In this episode, host Claire Brown explores the vital role of tenant liaison in delivering successful retrofit programmes. Joined by Olivia Greenhalgh and Asam Rashid from First Choice Homes Oldham, the discussion focuses on putting people at the heart of retrofit.Olivia and Asam share practical insights, lived experience and lessons learned from working closely with tenants, highlighting the impo
Solving the fabric retrofit scale-up challenge
In this episode, Claire Brown is joined by Adam Slader and Alex Whitcroft, co-founders of VundaHaus. Together they explore the real barriers holding retrofit back, from labour shortages and funding uncertainty to productivity and resident engagement, and discuss how innovation, offsite manufacturing and data-led approaches can unlock delivery at scale. The conversation also dives into the Innovate
Contractor’s vs Designer’s design responsibilities
In this RISE podcast episode, host Claire Brown speaks with Joseph Wittenberg, Principal Consultant at Turner and Townsend, about one of the biggest risk areas in retrofit projects: design responsibility. The discussion explores where liability sits between contractors and designers, particularly under design-and-build contracts and PAS 2035 compliant retrofit programmes.Joe breaks down key legal
Compliance in practice: making sense of PAS standards
Host Jonathan Newton speaks with Nathaniel Butters and Rory Nixon from ECO Serv to demystify one of the most important topics in the retrofit sector today: PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 compliance.Nathaniel and Rory share insights from more than a decade in the energy efficiency and retrofit space, explaining how PAS standards were introduced to improve quality, reduce risk and ensure whole-house, long-te
Fuel poverty to energy empowerment with Severn Wye
Claire Brown is joined by Severn Wye’s Allison Cawley and Claire Latham to examine what fuel poverty truly means, why person-centred retrofit matters, and how tailored guidance can transform homes, health and long-term energy resilience. Together they explore what effective retrofit looks like on the ground, from trusted installer networks to person-centred engagement, and highlight why collaborat
Warm homes, fair futures: National Energy Action on fuel poverty
Host Claire Brown is joined by Adam Scorer, Chief Executive of National Energy Action, for a deep dive into fuel poverty, its real human consequences and what it means for those managing and maintaining housing stock. Together they explore how cold, inefficient homes drive inequality, the pressures facing vulnerable residents, and why housing providers have a critical role in shaping warm, healthy
From peers to partners: networking for retrofit success
In this episode, Jonathan Newton is joined by Matthew Scott, Policy Manager at the Chartered Institute of Housing, and Jon Daley, Head of ESG at Habodel. Together they unpack the power of collaboration in the retrofit sector, exploring how strong professional networks, shared learning and cross-sector partnerships can accelerate sustainable transformation. The conversation highlights why building
Switchee speaks: damp, mould, and the retrofit mission
Sarah McClelland is joined by Tom Robins, Chief Executive of Switchee. Together they explore the implications of Awaab’s Law for the housing and retrofit sector, and how data and technology are transforming the retrofit landscape.The conversation dives into how Awaab’s Law challenges housing providers to look beyond compliance, focusing not only on fixing damp and mould but on transforming how we
Thermal imaging in retrofit with IRT
In this episode, Claire Brown chats with Lisa Cairns, Business Development and Improvement Manager at IRT Surveys about the power of thermal imaging in retrofit projects. Lisa explains how IRT helps housing providers and local authorities improve data accuracy, assess property conditions and make smarter retrofit decisions. Together they explore how AI, technology and data-led insights are transfo
Fairer Warmth: unlocking grants & support for energy efficiency
Claire Brown speaks with Andrew Ross and Kat Runnalls from the Centre for Energy Equality about Fairer Warmth, a digital platform designed to make energy efficiency and retrofit support more accessible and inclusive. Andrew and Kat share their insights into how Fairer Warmth helps individuals and communities access grants, advice and tailored retrofit pathways. They also discuss putting people at
Terraced streets with Rossendale Valley Energy
Claire Brown is joined by Andy Pinches, Operations Director at Rossendale Valley Energy, to explore the practical challenges and innovative solutions behind retrofitting terraced homes. Andy shares insights from his work in energy and fuel poverty, discussing innovative funding models, challenges with terraced housing, and the potential of local energy collaboration. Focusing on the Net Zero Terra
Procurement lessons across three waves: strategies for success
Claire Brown is joined by Francis Young, Associate Director at Ksquared, to unpack key procurement lessons from delivering retrofit projects across three waves of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). Francis shares insights from Ksquared’s work as a social enterprise supporting small housing associations through complex retrofit programmes. The discussion highlights the importance of co
From pilot to pioneer: the Nottingham Energiesprong experience
Jonathan Newton is joined by Richard Partington and Suzanne Davenport of Studio Partington to explore the pioneering Nottingham Energiesprong retrofit project. From the initial 2017 pilot to large-scale delivery, they discuss how this Dutch-inspired whole-house retrofit approach is transforming UK social housing. The conversation highlights the innovative use of modern construction methods, the cr
Constructive conversations: JCT 2024 in focus
Host Jonathan Newton is joined by David Barnsley, Associate Director at Turner & Townsend, to explore the JCT 2024 contract update and what it means for retrofit projects. With over 35 years of experience in procurement and construction contracts, David provides expert insight into the key changes, including updates around collaboration, dispute resolution, and the introduction of a target cos
Breathing easy: the critical role of ventilation in retrofitting
Jonathan Newton speaks with Jenny Danson, CEO of the Healthy Homes Hub, about the critical role of ventilation in home retrofitting. Jenny highlights how poor ventilation can harm residents' health and stresses the need to go beyond minimum compliance by designing systems that suit real-life use. The discussion reinforces the importance of putting health at the center of retrofit projects thro
Natural solutions: exploring alternative materials in retrofit
In today’s podcast, host Claire Brown is joined by Jamie Bartley, CEO & Founder at Unyte, to explore how natural materials, especially hemp, can support low-carbon retrofit solutions and result in well-performing carbon negative buildings. Claire asks Jamie about the common misconceptions surrounding materials such as hemp, what the wider social and health benefits are, and what housing stock
Understanding retrofit standards with Spruce Retrofit Consulting
In today’s podcast, host Jonathan Newton is joined by Sarah Price, Director at Spruce Retrofit Consulting Ltd, to discuss the importance of understanding retrofit standards.Sarah gives an overview of the standards that are available, the differences between them and the obstacles practitioners face when applying these standards. The discussion also provides insights into the measures housing stock
Women in Solidarity for Energy (WISE)
What are the main challenges faced by women in fuel poverty and how can they be supported through inclusive, sustainable housing strategies? To help answer this, Claire Brown discusses Women in Solidarity for Energy (WISE) with Marilyn Smith, WISE Coordinator and Executive Director of The Energy Action Project (EnAct). Together they look at how organisations such as EnAct work with partners to cre
Decarbonising retrofit buildings with data: insights from Atamate
In today’s podcast, Jonathan Newton is joined by Joe Miles, Founder and Project Director at Atamate. Together they explore the benefits of a data-driven approach to decarbonisation in buildings and how organisations looking to retrofit at scale can use data and technology to their advantage.Joe outlines how moving away from a fabric-focused approach towards a people-focused and service-first strat
Carbon Co-op Levenshulme: A blueprint for scaling up retrofit
In today’s episode host Jonathan Newton is joined by Hannah Dixon, Director at Progress in Practice, to discuss the Carbon Co-op Levenshulme Area Based Retrofit Scheme. Hannah outlines the shared values and culture of collaboration that existed right from the start of the project, and how key successes such as the valuable relationships and engagement with householders and the supply chain can hel
Harnessing Heat: The Language of Air Source Heat Pumps
In this episode Jonathan Newton is joined by Wes McGeeney, Net Zero Technical Manager at Thirteen Group to discuss the language around air source heat pumps and how this can influence adoption from both consumer and industry perspectives. Wes describes the challenges faced with planning and education and how these have been overcome, as well as the factors that influence the performance and effici
Silent threat: understanding radon & the risks
What exactly is Radon and what should housing stock owners be doing to identify, monitor, and mitigate radon risks as part of their retrofit planning and delivery? To explore this, Claire Brown is joined by Yvonne Power, Managing Director at Radon Solutions Ireland. Their discussion covers areas such as the best stage for testing radon levels, how common retrofit measures such as increasing airtig
Fighting Overheating & Protecting the Vulnerable with Shade the UK
Overheating and its impact on vulnerable communities in the UK is a growing concern. In today’s podcast, Jonathan Newton is joined by Andy Love from Shade The UK. They explore the effective strategies that can help mitigate overheating including accessible shaded and green spaces, ideas for policy changes and methods to help keep buildings cool. Andy also outlines the key areas that housing stock
Women in Retrofit with Her Retrofit Space
What are the biggest challenges women face in building long-term careers in retrofit, and how can the community help overcome them? To explore this, Claire Brown is joined by Ellora Coupe, Founder/ Director of Her Retrofit Space. Their discussion covers the areas where women face difficulties and need more support, common misconceptions about women’s roles in retrofit, different perspectives that
Data insights and programme evaluation with DG Cities
In today’s podcast we look at how a data-driven approach can enhance the effectiveness of retrofit initiatives and drive smarter decision-making in housing decarbonisation.To explore this subject, Jonathan Newton is joined by Balazs Csuvar, Director of Innovation and Net Zero and Edward Houghton, Director of Research and Insights, DG Cities. Together they unpack how data capture can be utilised in
AI-Powered solutions for heat pump installs with Dabalox
In today’s episode, Claire Brown discusses the benefits of using AI-powered solutions for heat pump installs with Caroline Bowen and Chris Arnold from Dabalox. Together they look at how AI enhances the efficiency and affordability of heat pump installations, and how housing stock owners can incorporate AI-driven solutions into various points of their retrofit strategy. For further information vis
PAS 2030 – understanding the standards & avoiding suspension with LHC Procure
How can contractors and housing providers avoid PAS 2030 suspension and maintain compliance for their projects? To explore this important issue, Jonathan Newton is joined by Chris Ferguson and Paul Dawson from LHC Procure. Their discussion covers best practices for ensuring retrofit success, and integrating lessons from past suspensions to improve installation quality, monitoring and maintenance.
The Community Retrofit Hub project
In today’s episode, Jonathan Newton discusses The Community Retrofit Hub project with Colin Timmins and Filipe Amarante from National Energy Action (NEA). Colin and Filipe explain why The Community Retrofit Hub’s approach is to place householders central throughout the retrofit process and outline how to achieve this. The discussion covers the importance of providing end-to-end support through bui
Deterioration of retrofit
In today’s episode, host Jonathan Newton is joined by Dr Martin Fletcher, Senior Research Fellow at Leeds Sustainability Institute. Martin gives an overview of the Deterioration of Retrofit Insulation Performance (DRIP) report, outlines the biggest lessons learned, and explains how they can shape future retrofit initiatives. The episode also looks at the main factors that contribute to the deterio
Lessons learnt from the HUG programme
How can housing stock owners incorporate lessons learned from retrofit projects to improve future initiatives? To help answer this, Steph Dylak, Programme Manager at GMCA, joins host Jonathan Newton to talk about her experiences of the HUG programme. The conversation covers the initial key objectives of the HUG programme, the evolution of these objectives during the process, challenges faced along
Technology acceptance
In this episode Sarah McClelland talks to Dan Bowers, Head of Psychology at the University of South Wales, about the significance of technology acceptance in the retrofit industry. Together they discuss why housing stock providers should prioritise technology acceptance and how leveraging insights into this can enhance their retrofit projects. For further information visit:https://www.southwales.a
Utilising the benefits of app solutions for retrofit
In this podcast, our host Jonathan Newton is joined by Bryan Charter, CEO at SuSy house, and Katherine Piper, Customer Operations Manager at Bristol City Leap. Together they explore how a technology-driven app can be used as an engagement tool to complement large-scale sustainability initiatives, accelerating retrofit adoption and carbon neutrality. For further information visit: https://susy.hous
Historic England Advice Notes (HEANs)
Claire Brown is joined by Charles Smith who is the Policy Director of Policy development at Historic England. Charles outlines what exactly is classed as a historic building, and gives an overview of Historic England Advice Notes (HEANs) and the various areas they cover. The discussion also explores how HEANs can be used and applied in order to benefit those looking to undertake a retrofit project
Contract termination in retrofit projects
Contract termination is an important topic but not one that’s often discussed. Joseph Wittenberg, Senior Consultant at Turner & Townsend, joins Jonathan Newton to explain exactly what contract termination means in the context of retrofit projects. Joseph advises what grant recipients need to be aware of when considering contract termination, the steps they can take throughout their project to
Retrofit case studies with Ecospheric
In today’s episode Kit Knowles, Director at Ecospheric, talks to host Sarah McClelland about his background and experiences in the retrofit sector. Kit breaks down what he terms the ‘triangle of constraint’ when it comes to retrofit, and what important tools and approaches can be used to overcome these constraints by those planning their own retrofit projects.For more information visit https://www
Effective Retrofit Contract Management with Sarah Fox
Sarah Fox is the author of Small Works Contracts in Just 500 Words. In this episode, Sarah talks to host Claire Brown about the importance of effective contract management. Sarah outlines her insights into what can be done by organisations to make contracts work better for everyone involved in their retrofit project and why an outcome focused approach is essential. For more information vist: htt
Lessons learned from Fishwick retrofit
In today’s episode, host Claire Brown is joined by Kevin Gawtrey RICS, Senior Building Surveyor, Aldrock and Filipe Amarante, Community Retrofit Project Manager, NEA.Kevin and Filipe provide a full overview of the Fishwick retrofit project, detailing the challenges faced along the way and explaining how these challenges were overcome. They also both share their standout lessons from their wealth o
PAS 2035 lessons for Warm Homes with The Specifics Group
In this episode, Jonathan Newton is joined by Greta Jonsson, Architect & Retrofit Designer, Design Specifics and Amanda Reynolds, Manager, Retrofit Coordinator, Compliance Specifics, to discuss the latest information on PAS 2035. Jonathan asks Greta and Amanda what the main changes are and how these will be delivered, and for a client, how best they can ensure that they are compliant for their
Mid-Mobilisation Review
In this episode Claire Brown is joined by Ben Hebbert, Senior Sustainability Consultant at Turner & Townsend/RISE to discuss mid-mobilisation review (MMR). Ben explains exactly what MMR is, what to expect from the process at each stage and what the benefits are for Warm Homes: Local Grant recipients. For more information visit: https://riseretrofit.org.uk/articles/warm-homes-need-to-knows-midm
Futurebuild 2025 reflections
Jonathan Newton is joined by Martin Hurn, Event Director, Futurebuild, and Megan Creswell, Senior Sustainability Consultant, Turner & Townsend/RISE, to talk through all their highlights and main insights from Futurebuild 25, including the many RISE events held this year. Their discussion covers the past 5 years of the retrofit stage at Futurebuild and how it has developed during this time, The
