RISE podcast

In this episode, host Claire Brown explores the vital role of tenant liaison in delivering successful retrofit programmes. Joined by Olivia Greenhalgh and Asam Rashid from First Choice Homes Oldham, the discussion focuses on putting people at the heart of retrofit. Olivia and Asam share practical insights, lived experience and lessons learned from working closely with tenants, highlighting the imp...

In this episode, Claire Brown is joined by Adam Slader and Alex Whitcroft, co-founders of VundaHaus. Together they explore the real barriers holding retrofit back, from labour shortages and funding uncertainty to productivity and resident engagement, and discuss how innovation, offsite manufacturing and data-led approaches can unlock delivery at scale. The conversation also dives into the Innovate...

In this RISE podcast episode, host Claire Brown speaks with Joseph Wittenberg, Principal Consultant at Turner and Townsend, about one of the biggest risk areas in retrofit projects: design responsibility. The discussion explores where liability sits between contractors and designers, particularly under design-and-build contracts and PAS 2035 compliant retrofit programmes. Joe breaks down key legal...

Host Jonathan Newton speaks with Nathaniel Butters and Rory Nixon from ECO Serv to demystify one of the most important topics in the retrofit sector today: PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 compliance. Nathaniel and Rory share insights from more than a decade in the energy efficiency and retrofit space, explaining how PAS standards were introduced to improve quality, reduce risk and ensure whole-house, long-t...

Claire Brown is joined by Severn Wye’s Allison Cawley and Claire Latham to examine what fuel poverty truly means, why person-centred retrofit matters, and how tailored guidance can transform homes, health and long-term energy resilience. Together they explore what effective retrofit looks like on the ground, from trusted installer networks to person-centred engagement, and highlight why collaborat...

Host Claire Brown is joined by Adam Scorer, Chief Executive of National Energy Action, for a deep dive into fuel poverty, its real human consequences and what it means for those managing and maintaining housing stock. Together they explore how cold, inefficient homes drive inequality, the pressures facing vulnerable residents, and why housing providers have a critical role in shaping warm, healthy...

In this episode, Jonathan Newton is joined by Matthew Scott, Policy Manager at the Chartered Institute of Housing, and Jon Daley, Head of ESG at Habodel. Together they unpack the power of collaboration in the retrofit sector, exploring how strong professional networks, shared learning and cross-sector partnerships can accelerate sustainable transformation. The conversation highlights why building...

Sarah McClelland is joined by Tom Robins, Chief Executive of Switchee. Together they explore the implications of Awaab’s Law for the housing and retrofit sector, and how data and technology are transforming the retrofit landscape. The conversation dives into how Awaab’s Law challenges housing providers to look beyond compliance, focusing not only on fixing damp and mould but on transforming how we...

In this episode, Claire Brown chats with Lisa Cairns, Business Development and Improvement Manager at IRT Surveys about the power of thermal imaging in retrofit projects. Lisa explains how IRT helps housing providers and local authorities improve data accuracy, assess property conditions and make smarter retrofit decisions. Together they explore how AI, technology and data-led insights are transfo...

Claire Brown speaks with Andrew Ross and Kat Runnalls from the Centre for Energy Equality about Fairer Warmth, a digital platform designed to make energy efficiency and retrofit support more accessible and inclusive. Andrew and Kat share their insights into how Fairer Warmth helps individuals and communities access grants, advice and tailored retrofit pathways. They also discuss putting people at...

Claire Brown is joined by Andy Pinches, Operations Director at Rossendale Valley Energy, to explore the practical challenges and innovative solutions behind retrofitting terraced homes. Andy shares insights from his work in energy and fuel poverty, discussing innovative funding models, challenges with terraced housing, and the potential of local energy collaboration. Focusing on the Net Zero Terra...

Claire Brown is joined by Francis Young, Associate Director at Ksquared, to unpack key procurement lessons from delivering retrofit projects across three waves of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). Francis shares insights from Ksquared’s work as a social enterprise supporting small housing associations through complex retrofit programmes. The discussion highlights the importance of co...

Jonathan Newton is joined by Richard Partington and Suzanne Davenport of Studio Partington to explore the pioneering Nottingham Energiesprong retrofit project. From the initial 2017 pilot to large-scale delivery, they discuss how this Dutch-inspired whole-house retrofit approach is transforming UK social housing. The conversation highlights the innovative use of modern construction methods, the cr...

Host Jonathan Newton is joined by David Barnsley, Associate Director at Turner & Townsend, to explore the JCT 2024 contract update and what it means for retrofit projects. With over 35 years of experience in procurement and construction contracts, David provides expert insight into the key changes, including updates around collaboration, dispute resolution, and the introduction of a target cos...

Jonathan Newton speaks with Jenny Danson, CEO of the Healthy Homes Hub, about the critical role of ventilation in home retrofitting. Jenny highlights how poor ventilation can harm residents' health and stresses the need to go beyond minimum compliance by designing systems that suit real-life use. The discussion reinforces the importance of putting health at the center of retrofit projects thro...

In today’s podcast, host Claire Brown is joined by Jamie Bartley, CEO & Founder at Unyte, to explore how natural materials, especially hemp, can support low-carbon retrofit solutions and result in well-performing carbon negative buildings. Claire asks Jamie about the common misconceptions surrounding materials such as hemp, what the wider social and health benefits are, and what housing stock...

In today’s podcast, host Jonathan Newton is joined by Sarah Price, Director at Spruce Retrofit Consulting Ltd, to discuss the importance of understanding retrofit standards. Sarah gives an overview of the standards that are available, the differences between them and the obstacles practitioners face when applying these standards. The discussion also provides insights into the measures housing stoc...

What are the main challenges faced by women in fuel poverty and how can they be supported through inclusive, sustainable housing strategies? To help answer this, Claire Brown discusses Women in Solidarity for Energy (WISE) with Marilyn Smith, WISE Coordinator and Executive Director of The Energy Action Project (EnAct). Together they look at how organisations such as EnAct work with partners to cre...

In today’s podcast, Jonathan Newton is joined by Joe Miles, Founder and Project Director at Atamate. Together they explore the benefits of a data-driven approach to decarbonisation in buildings and how organisations looking to retrofit at scale can use data and technology to their advantage. Joe outlines how moving away from a fabric-focused approach towards a people-focused and service-first stra...

In today’s episode host Jonathan Newton is joined by Hannah Dixon, Director at Progress in Practice, to discuss the Carbon Co-op Levenshulme Area Based Retrofit Scheme. Hannah outlines the shared values and culture of collaboration that existed right from the start of the project, and how key successes such as the valuable relationships and engagement with householders and the supply chain can hel...

In this episode Jonathan Newton is joined by Wes McGeeney, Net Zero Technical Manager at Thirteen Group to discuss the language around air source heat pumps and how this can influence adoption from both consumer and industry perspectives. Wes describes the challenges faced with planning and education and how these have been overcome, as well as the factors that influence the performance and effici...

What exactly is Radon and what should housing stock owners be doing to identify, monitor, and mitigate radon risks as part of their retrofit planning and delivery?  To explore this, Claire Brown is joined by Yvonne Power, Managing Director at Radon Solutions Ireland. Their discussion covers areas such as the best stage for testing radon levels, how common retrofit measures such as increasing airti...

Overheating and its impact on vulnerable communities in the UK is a growing concern. In today’s podcast, Jonathan Newton is joined by Andy Love from Shade The UK. They explore the effective strategies that can help mitigate overheating including accessible shaded and green spaces, ideas for policy changes and methods to help keep buildings cool. Andy also outlines the key areas that housing stock...

What are the biggest challenges women face in building long-term careers in retrofit, and how can the community help overcome them? To explore this, Claire Brown is joined by Ellora Coupe, Founder/ Director of Her Retrofit Space. Their discussion covers the areas where women face difficulties and need more support, common misconceptions about women’s roles in retrofit, different perspectives that...

In today’s podcast we look at how a data-driven approach can enhance the effectiveness of retrofit initiatives and drive smarter decision-making in housing decarbonisation. To explore this subject, Jonathan Newton is joined by Balazs Csuvar, Director of Innovation and Net Zero and Edward Houghton, Director of Research and Insights, DG Cities. Together they unpack how data capture can be utilised i...