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. 3d ago

    From procurement to performance: delivering quality through Pretium, PAS compliance and effective ventilation

    What does it take to deliver successful, high-quality retrofit projects that improve homes for the long term? Host Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Rowena Claydon Smith (Abri), Alex Ashton (Sanctuary Housing) and Cameron Ward (Anchor Housing) to explore the practical lessons behind successful retrofit delivery. The discussion covers the importance of early contractor engagement, effective procurement and pre-construction planning, and how the Pretium framework supports compliance, consistency and value for money. The guests also examine the role of PAS 2035 in delivering quality outcomes, maintaining the golden thread of information, and ensuring retrofit measures achieve lasting improvements in building performance. A key focus is ventilation: why it must be prioritised from the outset, how to address resident concerns, and the challenges of interpreting standards consistently across the industry. The panel share examples of lessons learned from previous Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) programmes, highlighting the importance of collaboration, resident engagement, clear communication and strong supply-chain relationships. Discover why successful retrofit is about more than installing energy efficiency measures. It requires the right people, robust planning, effective teamwork and a resident-first approach to deliver warmer, healthier, better-performing homes. For further information visit: www.pretium.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.

  2. Oct 21

    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 a more collaborative, resident-focused approach is essential to making homes fit for a net zero future. Together they explore some of the biggest challenges facing the retrofit sector, including financing, supply chain capacity, construction quality and resident engagement. Emily and Emmelie explain how innovative financing models, solar panels, battery storage, flexible energy tariffs and new revenue streams are creating opportunities to make retrofit more affordable and financially viable for social landlords. They also discuss the potential of off site manufacturing and modern methods of construction, including the development of integrated retrofit solutions through Transform-ER, a community interest company focused on helping social landlords and local authorities procure, finance and deliver retrofit at scale. Grouping similar homes into co-ordinated project pipelines can help reduce costs, improve performance and accelerate delivery. For further information visit: www.energiesprong.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.

  3. Oct 14

    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 development, and why these standards are essential to building trust and raising the quality of environmental work. Claire and Phil’s conversation explores how professional recognition can help address skills shortages, attract new talent, challenge misinformation and tackle poor practice across the retrofit industry. Phil shares insights into the value of externally verified professional standards, the importance of evidence-based decision-making and the confidence professionals gain to challenge established approaches and advocate for better outcomes. He also outlines the pathway to becoming a Chartered Environmentalist, highlighting the role of professional bodies, competency assessments, mentoring and ongoing learning. For further information visit: www.socenv.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.

  4. Oct 7

    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 wellbeing, rather than focusing on individual technologies in isolation. The episode explores the growing importance of retrofit in meeting net zero ambitions while delivering wider social and economic benefits, from warmer and healthier homes and lower energy bills to tackling fuel poverty, supporting biodiversity and strengthening local communities. Claire and Amanda also discuss the critical role of residents and building occupants, the skills and competencies needed across the retrofit supply chain, and the importance of quality assurance, collaboration and long-term investment in skills. Amanda shares insights into CIOB’s work to promote best practice, training and policy development, as well as practical advice for organisations beginning their retrofit journey. Ultimately, successful retrofit is about more than reducing carbon - it is about improving people’s homes, workplaces and lives. This episode highlights why putting people at the heart of retrofit, while investing in the professionals and skills needed to deliver high-quality projects, will be essential to creating better-performing buildings and healthier, more resilient and sustainable communities. For further information visit: www.ciob.org 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.

  5. Sep 30

    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, 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. 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.

  6. Sep 23

    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 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.

  7. Sep 16

    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 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.

  8. Sep 9

    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. 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.

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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
    147
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise
  • Show Website
    RISE podcast

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