On 21st February, the National Retrofit Hub (NRH) hosted the inaugural open meeting. In attendance were almost 400 participants from across the retrofit industry.
INTRODUCTION
The meeting started with NRH Co-Director, Sara Edmonds, welcoming attendees. Sara then presented a quick poll to find out the different categories of attendees, the results for which you can find here.
NRH board chair, Lynne Sullivan, then introduced the NRH in more detail, outlining the formation of the Hub, why there is an urgent need for the Hub and briefly explaining the role of the NRH within the retrofit sector.
Rachael Owens, NRH Co-Director, then introduced the next interactive activity. Rachael asked attendees at the meeting to submit one or two words, answering the question ‘What value should the National Retrofit Hub bring to the retrofit sector?’.
These answers were placed into a word cloud and results were presented. You can find those here.
After giving a brief overview of the Working Groups and the different facets that they cover, Rachael then passed on to the first of six speakers to give more detail into their working group.
WARM, HEALTHY, NET ZERO – WORKING GROUP 1
Louis Daillencourt, Technical Lead of the Working Group 1, was the first speaker to present their Working Group’s overview of themes as well as two examples of objectives and outcomes. Louis then provided two examples of objectives and targeted outputs:
OBJECTIVE 1
Good quality information on how to consider retrofit for different building types (archetypes) is comprehensive across the UK’s building stock and easily accessible.
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- SWOT Analysis
- Online library of examples of archetypal approaches
- Briefing note: Best practice for defining and designing retrofit archetypes
OBJECTIVE 2
Building users and owners are enabled to access specific information on a building’s performance, construction and work carried out to date.
Information from building logbooks is nationally aggregated and readable.
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- Mapping out the market for property logbooks
- Supporting the supply-side of the property logbooks market
- Stimulating the demand-side of the property logbook market
- Ensuring interoperability via an agreed data framework and data governance principles
We then heard from Working Group 2 Co-Chairs, Megan Adlen and Jade Lewis.
SUPPLY CHAIN, PRODUCTS & SOLUTIONS – WORKING GROUP 2
Megan and Jade shared Working Group 2’s core themes and went on to present two example objectives and outcomes, including:
OBJECTIVE 1
Showcase the range of products, solutions and innovations available for retrofit.
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- Present case studies (against a standard template) and examples across the whole suite of products, solutions and innovations which form part of retrofit, via the NRH website
- Determine how we ensure quality and compliance of information shared, and understand liabilities and protect the Hub and any content authors
OBJECTIVE 2
Identify and overcome barriers to market uptake of innovative solutions for retrofit
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- Support the work already underway to create and implement a process for the approval of innovative products into the retrofit market.
- Support SAP / EPC reform
- Understand the barriers to the adoption of innovation by the UK construction supply chain and identify tangible actions that the NRH can take
Sara then introduced us to Working Group 3 Co-Chair, Cara Jenkinson.
WORKFORCE GROWTH & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT – WORKING GROUP 3
Cara presented Working Group 3’s core themes to attendees, and went on to give two example objectives and outcomes from her Working Group, including:
OBJECTIVE 1
Publish a directory of qualifications that are relevant for retrofit (without endorsements).
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- Qualifications and Training Map (which has been published and is available on our website now).
OBJECTIVE 2
Create content to promote retrofit careers (PAS2035, installation and building roles).
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- Videos to be used by colleges, career advisors, and schools showing different roles and career pathways
Cara then passed on to the speakers for Working Group 4 – Emma Harvey-Smith and Heather Buchanan.
FINANCE – WORKING GROUP 4
Emma started off by giving an overview of Working Group 4. Heather then introduced attendees to the first of the two example objectives.
OBJECTIVE 1
- Identify the policy barriers and enablers to advance retrofit policy in the UK.
- Understand the role of banks and financial institutions in retrofit policy.
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- Consensus on retrofit policy direction: There is a need for fiscal incentives and policy clarity.
- NRH to work with B4NZ on technical details of EPC Reform.
OBJECTIVE 2
Unlocking the barriers to scaling finance, and creating connections between finance products and retrofit projects.
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- Greater connectivity between retrofit practitioners and the finance industry.
- Identify the barriers and enablers for the finance and retrofit communities to work more closely together
We then heard from Working Group 5 chair, Donal Brown.
FINANCE – WORKING GROUP 5
Donal started off by giving an overview of Working Group 5 and introduced the first of two of Working Group 5’s objectives.
OBJECTIVE 1
- Relevant delivery support systems exist for building owners, stock asset managers/property portfolio holders, and delivery organisations for a given delivery model
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- State of the Nation of delivery report – to enable next steps into innovation and future delivery
- Best practice case studies (all or part delivery), organisational profiles
Sara then introduced the second objective and outcome for the Working Group.
OBJECTIVE 2
Pathways for, and formal recognition of, community driven retrofit initiatives are in place.
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- Website resource signposting to relevant information and toolkits
- Convene a network – Community of Practice – for community organisations (newsletter, webinars, events)
We then heard from our final Working Group Chair, Cara Holmes.
DRIVING UPTAKE – WORKING GROUP 6
Cara introduced attendees to the Working Groups overview of themes and went on to present two of the group’s objectives.
OBJECTIVE 1
- Literature review and stakeholder mapping to identify the current state of play, best practice examples, and potential future collaborators.
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- State of the nation – what’s the current resident demand for retrofit measures?
- Stakeholder map
- Mapping existing activities and materials
OBJECTIVE 2
Defining the brief and developing a theory of change
TARGETED OUTPUTS
- Developing SMART objectives
- Highlighting objectives which require policy change
- Developing a theory of change for retrofit pathways identified in WG5
WRAPPING UP
Sara invited the group to submit answers to the question ‘Where do you think the Hub has most potential for impact?’ after learning more about it. Find the results of that here.
Rachael then wrapped up the meeting by:
- Informing attendees about where and when they can find us at Futurebuild between 5th – 7th March
- Inviting members of the group to become a sponsor, join our working groups and subscribe to our newsletter
- Outlining when to expect the next Working Group sessions
Sara ended the meeting by announcing the new job opening at the National Retrofit Hub – Technical Programme Manager. Find out more about that here.
