With economic uncertainty looming against the backdrop of 2050 net zero targets, now is the time to turn a challenge into an opportunity says Alex Gates, Managing Director of Simply Certification.
Soaring energy bills, mould in rented homes and the economic crisis- three subjects on everyone’s lips at the moment. On top of this the government has committed to reaching carbon net zero by 2050.
The common link between all four of these is that over 24 million (read that again) houses need to undergo retrofit to meet the government’s energy efficiency targets, which in turn will reduce energy bills, make homes healthier and positively impact people’s personal budgets.
This is a massive opportunity for companies but with the constant threat of economic uncertainty, what are the best strategies to employ to ensure that you come out fighting at the other end?
Let’s put it simply.
Standardisation was introduced to ensure that processes and procedures were adhered to on a global scale, essentially improving the lives of people on the planet. The reality of course, is that the landscape has become more complicated over time – and now, with the proliferation of information sources, its hard to know where to begin.
It’s now common to see contract frameworks mandate best practice through the demonstration of ISO certified management systems such as quality (ISO 9001), health and safety (ISO 45001) and environmental (ISO 14001).
PAS 2030 (Retrofit of Energy Efficiency Measures) is a certification which is being mandated (along with TrustMark Registration) to ensure that any work carried out on publicly funded projects and residential properties are fit for purpose. With the rise of public funding to help get existing building stock energy efficient, the need for more contractors to have PAS 2030 and TrustMark has grown substantially.
The opportunity
An astonishing 35 percent of all energy emissions come from homes, so to tackle this, billions of pounds is now being pumped into various schemes such as the Home Upgrade Grant and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. In total there are 24 million existing houses that need to be retrofitted with measures to reduce energy loss and ensure a healthier home through good ventilation.
There is a huge shortfall of energy efficient installers across the country currently. To hit the targets set, there need to be around 71,500 retrofits delivered every month. Large construction players are looking to smaller contractors increase their supply chains – so there has never been a better time to invest in the future of your business to gain PAS 2030 and TrustMark registration.
Gaining PAS 2030 and TrustMark is not as difficult as it may first appear and there are three ways that it can help you thrive:
Create an environment of quality and satisfaction
PAS 2030 Certification recognises that you have the procedures in place to ensure that all installers carry out work following a design overseen by a Retrofit Coordinator, whilst TrustMark registration protects the occupier. This ensures that the work is delivered to a high and consistent standard, resulting in higher satisfaction and reducing the need for remedial works- which is cost and timesaving and builds reputation.
Attract and retain talent
By holding certification, you are not only signalling to customers that you are dedicated to training existing and future generations of your team, but to prospective talent that you take their development seriously. By ensuring standards are implemented across the business, you encourage consistency of delivery, higher standards, better employee satisfaction and a legacy of quality and staff retention.
Develop new relationships across the UK supply chain
The government endorsed Trustmark scheme is awarded alongside PAS 2030 and provides access to new consumer markets.
On top of homeowner funding schemes that a certified installer would benefit from, there are also larger construction companies that are actively opening up trading opportunities for smaller companies in a bid to meet government targets. Those that can demonstrate capability and commitment to quality are now able to access national opportunities and develop previously unattainable relationships.
So, can you afford not to invest in the future of your business, your people and the planet?