A new report published by the National Retrofit Hub has called for ‘urgent’ government action to address skills shortages, which the organisation described as one of the largest barriers to scaling home retrofit in the UK.
With 19 million homes needing energy efficiency upgrades by 2050, the report makes the case for a coordinated national effort to build the retrofit workforce.
At the centre of the report is a call for a 10-year National Retrofit Workforce Strategy, which would bring together government, industry, training providers, and local leaders to align policy, investment, and delivery while creating thousands of jobs.
The new paper, Policy Recommendations for a National Retrofit Workforce Strategy, presents ten priorities for action. Developed through sector-wide collaboration, the paper highlights a ‘strong and growing’ consensus around the need for a coordinated national approach.
The report was launched at an event co-hosted by the National Retrofit Hub and London South Bank University (LSBU). Sponsored by LSBU, it brought together leaders from government, local authorities, academia, and industry to discuss the skills needed to unlock retrofit at scale.
The ten priorities for action are:
- A National Retrofit Workforce Strategy to drive delivery
- Clear, consistent policy direction to build confidence and unlock investment
- Defined skills pathways and high-quality training provision
- Reformed funding models to drive skills via public sector procurement
- A competent workforce delivering better quality outcomes
- Expanded training capacity to support a diversity of workers
- Reformed apprenticeships with clear retrofit pathways
- A national awareness campaign for retrofit careers
- Creating the conditions to attract a diverse workforce
- Support for SMEs and microbusinesses to build capacity and access contracts
The report also calls for greater clarity on energy efficiency policy, particularly around Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), and for coordinated leadership at national, regional, and local levels.
Sara Edmonds, co-director of the National Retrofit Hub, said, “We already know what needs to be done. This paper brings it together in one place; clear, achievable, and grounded in practice. It echoes calls across the sector from those doing vital work but held back by the retrofit skills crisis, and strengthens the case for urgent, coordinated action. If we want to scale retrofit, we have to scale skills. The opportunity is enormous, but it needs commitment. This is about investing in people, places, and long-term progress.”
The paper has been co-authored by Cara Jenkinson (Ashden) and Pippa Palmer (Polln Limited and LSBU), who together led the research while co-chairing the National Retrofit Hub’s Workforce Growth & Skills Development Working Group.
The report can be read here: https://nationalretrofithub.org.uk/resource/policy-recommendations-for-a-national-retrofit-workforce-strategy/
