The organisation uses the scale and predictability of its planned programmes and works in partnership with other housing associations towards achieving net zero carbon.  It shares best practice and using economies of scale to strengthen supply chains, improve skills and reduce the costs of change.  This could include delivering retrofit programmes on a neighbourhood basis, including homes owned by all landlords operating in the area and potentially also private owners. 

The organisation also participates in a cross-sector programme of training staff in skills linked to the installation of both improved insulation and low-carbon energy sources.  It is working with local colleges to develop appropriate training programmes and apprenticeships.  It has considered:

• Sponsoring apprenticeships across multiple SME contractors
• Reforming procurement arrangements to enable these organisations to compete effectively for this work
• Providing pastoral support and mentoring to reduce apprentice dropout
• Targeting reskilling at workers in adjacent construction roles
• Committing to three-to-five year retrofit programmes to generate long-term certainty for colleges and contractors.