Introduction

The National Housing Maintenance Forum (NHMF) has published new online guidance for social landlords about fuel-saving improvements and why addressing fuel poverty should be a key driver of asset-management strategies and investment plans. The NHMF is now also offering bespoke briefings for governing bodies and senior management teams, on why fuel-saving improvements should be a strategic priority, and training for asset managers to help them plan and deliver those improvements.

Briefing for governing bodies

A half-day in-house, bespoke briefing session for governing bodies, senior management teams and residents’ representatives. The briefing aims to:

• provide a comprehensive briefing on the issues of fuel poverty, climate change and energy efficiency, and their implications for social housing
• explain why these issues should be key drivers of asset-management strategies and investment planning
• provide guidance and examples of how this can be done 

The session builds on the NHMF’s Fuel-Saving Improvements guidance.

The trainers will review each organisation’s published strategy documents prior to the briefing, in order to ensure that a bespoke session is provided consistent with the organisation’s circumstances and strategic objectives. Among other deliverables, this bespoke session will provide each organisation with:

• a summary of the key legislative and business drivers for fuel-saving improvements as a strategic priority for their organisation
• key investment and asset management questions related to the delivery of affordable warmth
• a brief commentary on their published strategy documents, following discussion at the workshop

Trainers: Peter Rickaby and Andrew Burke (Rickaby Thompson Associates)

Cost: £1250 plus VAT

Training for asset managers

Comprehensive energy efficiency training for asset managers and technical staff, offered in partnership with The Retrofit Academy and providing credits towards the Academy’s Diploma in Retrofit. This training takes the form of four one-day units dealing with the following topics:

• introduction to improving energy efficiency in housing
• assessing your housing stock and evaluating improvement options
• strategies for delivering fuel-saving improvements
• assuring quality: retrofit coordination and risk management

This training will be provided on an open-access or in-house basis by The Retrofit Academy’s expert training team working in partnership with the NHMF. These units provide four credits towards the eight credits and examination pass required to earn the Academy’s Diploma in Retrofit.

Cost: For open-access training £225 plus VAT per person per unit or £850 plus VAT for four units booked as a block. Discounts are available for multiple bookings and in-house presentations – please contact The Retrofit Academy for a quotation.