Housing associations and local authorities are being urged to use retrofit procurement as a tool to create local jobs, boost training and apprenticeships, and address construction’s growing green skills shortage.
New guidance published by climate solutions charity Ashden sets out how housing providers can build employment, skills and wider social value into retrofit programmes from the outset.
The Greener homes and good local jobs procurement guidance has been developed with Efficiency North, the National Retrofit Hub and the UK Green Building Council. It draws on discussions with more than 100 retrofit sector practitioners, including housing associations, local authorities, contractors and framework providers.
Its launch comes against a backdrop of significant workforce pressures across construction. An estimated 140,000 construction vacancies were reported in 2025, with shortages affecting roles including retrofit coordinators and assessors, heat pump installers, insulation specialists and multi-trade workers. Around a third of the workforce is also expected to retire by 2035.
The guidance argues that large-scale retrofitting of social housing offers an opportunity not only to improve the energy efficiency of homes, but also to create employment pathways for local people and build a more resilient workforce.
It provides practical advice for commissioners on embedding employment and skills outcomes throughout the procurement process, from setting objectives and selecting frameworks to supplier selection, contract management and enforcement.
Investing in people and communities
Simeon Perry, head of ESG at Efficiency North, said: “Retrofit is not simply an opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of homes; it’s also an opportunity to invest in the people and communities delivering that transformation.
“For housing providers, addressing local skills shortages can help support better-quality delivery and more resilient programmes, while also creating opportunities for their own residents.”
The guidance stresses that social value should not be treated as a tick-box exercise once a contract has been awarded. Instead, housing providers should put processes in place from the beginning to ensure employment, training and other outcomes can be delivered and measured.
It follows the publication of the government’s updated PPN 026 Social Value Model in August, which places greater emphasis on good jobs, skills and local opportunities in public procurement.
Cara Jenkinson, head of cities at Ashden, said: “Home decarbonisation is a major opportunity for housing providers to address skills shortages while delivering warmer, more efficient homes, but procurement needs to be used strategically to make this happen.
“By building jobs, training and apprenticeships into retrofit programmes from the outset, commissioners can strengthen their supply chains, improve programme resilience and reduce the risks associated with skills shortages.”
The guidance also highlights Efficiency North’s EN framework as an example of how social value can be embedded into procurement, with contractors required to support outcomes including training, apprenticeships and new employment opportunities.
