RISE podcast

In this episode, host Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Mishary Alfahad, Head of the Green Academy at Capital City College, to discuss the growing retrofit sector and the skills needed to build a future-ready workforce.
Drawing on his experience in employability, skills development and green training, Mishary shares how education providers are helping people access careers in retrofit through practical training, employer partnerships and tailored support. Their discussion explores the importance of upskilling both new entrants and existing professionals, the challenges of meeting increasing demand for green skills and the value of strong collaboration between colleges, employers and local organisations.
The episode also highlights the opportunities available for young people and career changers looking to enter the green economy, with practical advice on taking the first steps into retrofit training and employment. Listeners will gain valuable insight into the skills, pathways and partnerships helping to shape the UK's transition to a more sustainable built environment.
For further information visit:
www.capitalccg.ac.uk
www.capitalccg.ac.uk/skills-academies/green
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.

Claire Brown is joined by Stevie Mardy, Key Account Manager at Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions, to explore the growing role of heat pumps in retrofit projects.
Stevie shares insights from working with housing associations and local authorities to deliver low carbon heating solutions, discussing the practical opportunities and common challenges of installing heat pumps in existing homes. The conversation covers the importance of resident engagement, education, phased delivery and building confidence in new technologies, while highlighting how successful case studies can help accelerate wider adoption across the housing sector.
The episode also explores the future of home heating and cooling as the UK moves towards net zero, and why manufacturers have an important role to play in supporting the transition through innovation, collaboration and sharing best practice.
For further information visit: www.aircon.panasonic.eu/GB_en
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.

Host Claire Brown explores the importance of retrofit guides for residents through a case study from Stoke Climsland Parish Council in the South West of England.
Claire is joined by Richard Davies, Vice Chair of Stoke Climsland Parish Council and Chair of its Carbon Zero Committee, who discusses the council’s work to support whole-house retrofit across the parish. The conversation introduces the local approach to encouraging sustainable home improvements and highlights how community-led initiatives can help residents understand and engage with retrofit projects.
This episode provides an introduction to the role of parish councils in driving retrofit ambitions and the value of clear, accessible guidance for residents embarking on their own retrofit journey.
For further information visit: stokeclimslandparishcouncil.gov.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.

In this episode, Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK), and Laura Bishop, Co-Chair of HPA UK.  The discussion begins by introducing the newly formed organisation, which brings together three previous trade bodies to provide a single voice for the sector. HPA UK works with government and industry to improve standards, support installer training, influence policy and accelerate the uptake of heat pumps across the UK.
The speakers explain how heat pumps are a well-established technology that transfers heat from the air, ground or water into buildings, making them far more efficient than traditional gas boilers. They address common misconceptions, highlighting that heat pumps can work effectively in existing homes, including older properties, when correctly designed and installed. Advances in refrigerants have also improved performance and reduced environmental impact, while customer satisfaction remains high, with around 95% of Boiler Upgrade Scheme recipients reporting positive experiences.
The discussion highlights strong market growth, increasing use of heat pumps in social housing and new-build developments, and expanding installer capacity. They conclude that heat pumps are a proven solution for low-carbon heating, with continued government support, lower electricity costs and greater consumer awareness expected to drive further growth in the years ahead.
For further information visit: www.hpauk.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.

In this episode, host Adam Armour-Florence is joined by Ed Andrews, Commercial Director at InstaGroup, to explore the transition from the ECO and GBIS funding schemes to the government's new Warm Homes Plan.
Drawing on InstaGroup's extensive experience in retrofit delivery, Ed discusses how the sector is adapting to a fundamentally different operating model that places greater emphasis on whole house retrofit, local delivery, long term programme management and quality assurance. Their conversation examines the opportunities and challenges facing installers as they navigate new procurement routes, increased compliance requirements, changing payment structures and the growing importance of partnerships across the retrofit supply chain.
Adam and Ed also explore the role of resident engagement in delivering successful retrofit projects, the importance of maintaining high quality standards throughout delivery and how collaboration between local authorities, contractors, installers and communities will be essential to achieving the UK's ambitious decarbonisation and energy efficiency goals. Drawing on InstaGroup's work with Surrey County Council, Ed shares practical lessons on building trusted local partnerships and delivering successful retrofit programmes at scale.
For further information visit: www.instagroup.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.