February saw Torus Assets and HMS colleagues taking part in a Retrofit Bootcamp, a two-day intensive course designed to provide colleagues with an overview of the retrofit processes and prepare to meet our ambitious decarbonisation programme.

Delivered by Retrofit Academy CIC, the course provided attendees with the knowledge required to plan, manage, and deliver carbon zero PAS 2035 retrofit projects. PAS 2035 is the best practice guidance on how to go about energy efficiency retrofit which has been adopted for Government-funded measures, acting as a framework that sets out a management specification for the energy retrofit of domestic buildings. Everyone involved with funded schemes must meet the requirements of the standard.

Retrofit refers to any improvement work on an existing building to improve its energy efficiency, making them easier to heat, able to retain that heat for longer, and replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy. Retrofitted homes are better protected against energy price increases as they can generate their own energy and are improved so they require less energy too. Retrofit works are key in reaching net-zero targets.

Talking about the bootcamp, Course Tutor, Dee Miller said:

“The course explains this approach, which focused on the installation of energy efficient measures, considering the requirement of the entire building under PAS 2035, considering technical elements as well as the comfort of those living in the home.

“The bootcamp is aimed at people wanting to know about retrofit but without the need to gain a qualification but will give them a firm foundation to investigate further training and it was a real pleasure teaching such a knowledgeable and high energy group of people.”

Up to 40 staff from across the group, as well as some of our partners including Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, have benefited from the training.

Amanda O’Donnell, Head of Torus Asset Strategy and Planning, added:

“Torus is dedicated to our journey to net zero emissions and, perhaps more importantly, to providing our customers with safe, energy efficient homes that are economical to heat and inspire a sense of pride.

“As such, carbon zero retrofit will be a significant part of our investment plans over the next 30 years, and PAS 2035 skills will be essential to ensure carbon retrofit activities provide positive results for Torus, our customers, and our communities.

“It is also fabulous to be able to offer our colleagues the opportunity to attain skills and qualifications that will support their career ambitions.”

The course saw attendees from across the group, including Assets and HMS, cover a range of topics around domestic retrofit and this is what they had to say about their experience:

“It's been great to increase my knowledge with the Retrofit Academy. What I've learnt will support our investment plans and has been great for my personal development! Torus aren't just investing in our properties, they are also investing in me to prepare us for our net zero plans. It's great to learn pragmatic and environmentally friendly ways we can improve the lives of our tenants!”

Dave Gerwitz, Torus Asset Planning and Data Manager

“The course is important as it is key to the future of homes in the UK. It showed us the benefits of retrofit when installed correctly, whilst highlighting how HMS and Torus would need to work in partnership to achieve the best results for the customers, including warmer homes and reducing energy bills and at the same time increasing the value of the housing stock. It will help me in my role, to have a better understanding of the retrofit process and the benefits the business and customers will receive, and I look forward to leading the projects on site for Torus and learning a lot more.”

Karl Sandford, HMS Planned Works Manager

“The bootcamp gave a full oversight, understanding and awareness into the PAS 2035 and demonstrated the visions and the groups ambitions moving forward with retrofit. I found it interesting to find out how, we as a group, can make changes to our homes, so our customers gain much more economic and energy efficient homes. I think that our customers will all positively benefit from more energy efficient homes, which will hopefully help reduce energy bills, helping with the cost-of-living crisis. Going forward, I am looking forward to learning more and completing the Level 4 accreditation as a retro fit assessor.”

Mick Ledger, Torus Assets Surveyor

Taking about funding and future retrofit projects, Amanda, added:

“It’s a very exciting time for Torus and we have lots of retrofit projects planned over the next couple of years. We have managed to secure funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).

“We are planning to retrofit 558 homes across the North West, between April 2023 and July 2025, with measure including improved insulation, alternative heating sources, new windows and doors, all aimed to help reduce heat loss and maximise insulation for properties. Each household will also be offered an opportunity to learn more about reducing heat loss within their home, reducing their carbon emissions and how to maximise efficiencies.

“We are equally committed to investing in colleagues to ensure they have skills that make us fit for the future. In November 2022, Torus supported a £1 million funding application made by Retrofit Academy CIC to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for the Green Home Grant Skills Training Competition to help develop and support upskilling of the industry, required to meet the skills gap and the UK Governments Net Zero targets by 2050.

“Retrofit Academy CIC were subsequently successful with their funding application and Torus were eligible for match funding to secure PAS 2035 qualifications.”

We now have several colleagues from our Assets Team who will be undertaking further training to secure qualifications in:

• Level 3 Award in Domestic Retrofit Advice
• Level 4 Award in Domestic Retrofit Assessment
• Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management

In addition to this, two members of the Assets Team have completed a certificate in Professional Development in SHRA (Social Housing Retrofit Accelerator) Retrofit Essentials Course.

SHDF retrofit works have already started at Kingsway House in Warrington and the next project, which will see 42 flats on Kirk Street (Everton, L5) receive a range of works that will improve both energy efficiency and the aesthetics of the scheme, is due to start in the summer, with customers will also benefitting from additional support in behavioural change, energy advice and opportunities to understand the retrofit process and net zero targets.

Find out more about the Torus Environmental Sustainability Strategy here.