RISE podcast

Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise
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Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise (RISE) is a Government-backed, expert-led service. We offer free training, guidance and support to social housing providers and local authorities looking to secure funding for, and deliver successful programmes of, domestic retrofit. These podcasts aim to share insights, good practices, and lessons learned from relevant retrofit/Warm Homes projects. They are intended for informational purposes only and do not constitute recommendations or endorsements of specific suppliers, products, or services within the sector.

  1. 1D AGO

    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 installing air source heat pumps and solar PV to improving EPC ratings, this conversation highlights the importance of early engagement and strong tenant relationships. Successful retrofit isn’t just about technical compliance or funding milestones, it’s about trust, communication and putting residents at the centre of delivery. For further information visit: www.midlandsrural.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.

    30 min

  2. FEB 11

    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 funded delivery and the importance of building capability while projects are already in motion. The conversation covers heat pumps, solar PV, insulation, ventilation strategies and the challenges and opportunities facing contractors, local authorities and housing providers. For further information visit: www.auraretrofit.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.

    20 min

  3. FEB 4

    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 providers, the episode explores where heat batteries may offer advantages over heat pumps, particularly across dense, space-constrained, or electrically limited homes. The discussion then turns to the practical considerations of deploying heat batteries across existing housing portfolios. Clare and Iain examine installation challenges, resident impact, system flexibility and integration with the electricity grid, alongside the policy and funding landscape influencing uptake. Drawing on real-world retrofit experience, the episode provides housing associations, local authorities and asset managers with valuable insights to support decision-making as they plan and deliver scalable, resident-focused solutions for decarbonising heat. For further information visit: www.tepeo.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.

    31 min

  4. JAN 28

    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 working across net zero carbon, new build design and retrofit projects, Niall shares his perspective on how modelling software can provide valuable insight into building performance, support long-term carbon strategies and help teams visualise outcomes before investment decisions are made. The conversation explores the role of software as a practical aid for local authorities, consultants, engineers and architects, highlighting how considered use of modelling can bring transparency, build confidence, and support informed, sustainable retrofit decisions. For further information visit: www.iesve.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.

    17 min

  5. JAN 21

    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 how trust, communication and flexibility are key to achieving positive outcomes. The discussion demonstrates how listening to residents and learning from their experiences can unlock funding, improve delivery and drive long-term success in retrofit projects. For further information visit: www.southernhousing.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.

    21 min

  6. JAN 14

    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 importance of communication, honesty, empathy and trust in navigating disruption and achieving positive outcomes. From contractor relationships to managing expectations and building co-operation, this episode demonstrates how effective tenant engagement can lead to smoother projects and happier homes. Whether you’re working in social housing, sustainability or retrofit delivery, this conversation offers valuable guidance on achieving successful, people-centred retrofit projects. For further information visit: www.fcho.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.

    19 min

  7. JAN 7

    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 UK funded Transformer project, showcasing how collaboration across the supply chain can reduce risk, improve certainty and accelerate retrofit programmes for social landlords and housing providers. This episode is essential listening for local authorities, housing associations, retrofit professionals and anyone involved in delivering low-carbon, healthy homes at scale. For further information visit: www.vundahaus.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.

    27 min

  8. 12/17/2025

    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 concepts such as reasonable skill and care versus fitness for purpose, highlights common misconceptions that lead to disputes, and explains how unclear contract wording can expose housing providers to long-term risk. The episode also covers practical steps housing organisations can take to protect their assets, including choosing the right procurement route, clarifying employer’s requirements, and using design responsibility matrices to avoid scope gaps.

    20 min
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About

Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise (RISE) is a Government-backed, expert-led service. We offer free training, guidance and support to social housing providers and local authorities looking to secure funding for, and deliver successful programmes of, domestic retrofit. These podcasts aim to share insights, good practices, and lessons learned from relevant retrofit/Warm Homes projects. They are intended for informational purposes only and do not constitute recommendations or endorsements of specific suppliers, products, or services within the sector.

Information

  • Creator
    Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise
  • Show Website
    RISE podcast

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