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. MAR 10

    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 delivering retrofit at scale. The discussion focuses on the importance of embedding retrofit expertise within housing and asset management teams, the role of retrofit coordinators, and why practical, in-house knowledge is crucial for driving housing decarbonisation. 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. MAR 4

    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 intended outcomes. The conversation covers the importance of quality assurance, stakeholder collaboration, and getting retrofit right first time to avoid unintended consequences such as damp, mould and performance gaps. Whether you’re a housing provider, local authority, or retrofit professional, this episode offers practical guidance on balancing cost, quality and long-term sustainability. For further information visit: www.pro-cast.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.

    17 min

  3. FEB 25

    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 focuses on mastering data management as a critical enabler of successful retrofit programmes. From improving the accuracy and currency of housing stock data, to integrating EPC records and wider datasets, the episode explores how better data governance can unlock smarter targeting, strengthen funding readiness and support ongoing monitoring and evaluation. The conversation also highlights the importance of agility, ensuring providers can respond quickly to evolving grant criteria and policy changes. For further information visit: www.energysavingtrust.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.

    44 min

  4. FEB 18

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    114
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise
  • Show Website
    RISE podcast

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