Delivering Warm Homes

On September 24, during the Labour Party Conference, Sureserve hosted a roundtable chaired by the Social Market Foundation, focusing on Labour’s Warm Homes Plan. Key political figures, including Labour’s Mission Champion for Energy, Tom Hayes MP, joined sector experts and local government representatives to discuss pathways to achieving warm, energy-efficient housing. The event highlighted four critical themes: funding, communication, skills, and technology, as discussed in Sureserve's report, Delivering Warm Homes: A Plan for the Labour Government, which was shared with Labour leaders like Ed Miliband and Angela Rayner.

1. Funding – From Short-Term Complexity to Long-Term Assurance

The panel agreed that current funding for retrofitting homes is too short-term and complex, stalling investment and overwhelming smaller housing providers. To drive effective change, recommendations included:

• Adopting a long-term (e.g., seven years or more) funding commitment like Scotland's.
• Simplifying application processes by consolidating funding sources.
• Reforming procurement to make grant-funded projects more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

2. Communication – Overcoming Misconceptions through Targeted Messaging

Misunderstandings around retrofitting and clean heating systems threaten to undermine public support. Attendees emphasised the need for government-backed public engagement and communication to clarify benefits and correct misconceptions. Key suggestions included:

• Establishing dedicated funding for public education on retrofit benefits.
• Leveraging trusted community voices, such as social housing residents, to promote retrofitting within local networks.
• Shifting terminology from “net zero” and “retrofit” to more relatable terms like “home upgrades” and “lower bills.”

3. Skills – Building a Green Workforce for a Net-Zero Future

An ageing workforce and skills gap pose challenges to meeting retrofit goals. A clear strategy is essential for increasing the supply of skilled workers and inspiring new talent. Recommendations included:

• Formulating a coordinated skills strategy to address immediate needs and align with long-term net-zero targets.
• Investing in further education to equip more young people with retrofit and clean heat expertise.
• Developing specific apprenticeship standards and training centres to support career paths in retrofit.

4. Technology – Emphasising “Fabric First” for Sustainable Impact

The consensus held that a “fabric first” approach, focusing on enhancing building envelopes before installing heating systems, remains essential for social housing. Attendees highlighted:

• Enforcing the “fabric first” approach in building standards.
• Mandating independent inspections of all retrofits, mirroring Scotland’s quality-assurance model.
• Raising energy efficiency standards in rental properties with penalties for non-compliance.

Sureserve is committed to advancing decarbonisation and addressing the energy transition, keeping residents’ needs at the forefront. The company’s role as a leading energy services provider in the social housing sector positions it well to advocate for impactful changes, ensuring government accountability in achieving energy-efficient homes across the UK.

For more information about the Sureserves roundtable with prominent political figures, click here. 

To find out more about how Sureserve are progressing the Warm Homes agenda, please check out our latest news and projects.