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. Without it, progress on decarbonising homes will stall, putting the UK’s climate goals at risk and missing the wider benefits of retrofit, including improved public health, greater energy security, increased productivity, enhanced climate resilience, and stronger local economies.

At the centre of the report is 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 good, green jobs across the UK. Workforce competence would be at the heart of this strategy, ensuring retrofit is delivered to a high standard, with no unintended consequences for residents.

The new paper, Policy Recommendations for a National Retrofit Workforce Strategy, builds on a range of industry calls and presents ten clear, evidence-based priorities for action. Developed through extensive sector-wide collaboration, the paper highlights a strong and growing consensus around the urgent need for a coordinated national approach. Its alignment with other recent recommendations underscores the industry’s shared commitment to addressing this critical challenge.

The report was launched on 9 June at an event co-hosted by the National Retrofit Hub and London South Bank University (LSBU). Sponsored by LSBU, the event brought together leaders from government, local authorities, academia, and industry to discuss the skills needed to unlock retrofit at scale, with a particular focus on the ten-point  plan, including keynotes from Fiona Morey, Pro-Vice Chancellor at LSBU and Jack Ostrovsky, Retrofit London programme director at London Councils.

The ten priorities for action include:

1. A National Retrofit Workforce Strategy to drive delivery
2. Clear, consistent policy direction to build confidence and unlock investment
3. Defined skills pathways and high-quality training provision
4. Reformed funding models to drive skills via public sector procurement
5. A competent workforce delivering better quality outcomes
6. Expanded training capacity to support a diversity of workers
7. Reformed apprenticeships with clear retrofit pathways
8. A national awareness campaign for retrofit careers
9. Creating the conditions to attract a diverse workforce
10. 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.”

Tara Dean, interim co-vice-chancellor of London South Bank University, added: “I am delighted that London South Bank University is co-hosting the launch of this timely paper. Boosting the retrofit workforce will be vital if, as a country, we are serious about achieving net zero ambitions, kickstarting economic growth, and addressing social mobility.”

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.

Cara continues to co-chair the group, while Pippa stepped down in January 2025 to lead the Thriving Homes strand at LSBU’s new Building Future Communities Research Centre. The paper is based on research they conducted through a series of discovery workshops and insights gathered from employers, educators, local authorities, and retrofit specialists across the UK.