Retrofit Futures 2025: A Day of Collaboration, Community and Real Momentum for York and North Yorkshire

Retrofit Futures 2025 brought together an inspiring group of people committed to transforming how York and North Yorkshire approach home retrofit. Hosted in the York Guildhall, the event united local authorities, national leaders, innovators, installers, community groups and residents to celebrate progress and share the learning from the Retrofit One Stop Shop York project, known as ROSSY.

The event also marked an important moment for us as we publicly introduced YorEnergy, the new One Stop Shop designed with and for local residents. Across the day, a clear message emerged. Retrofit is not just a technical challenge. It is a people-centred movement shaped by collaboration, trust and shared purpose.

Below are the highlights and the voices that shaped the conversation.

Setting the Agenda for Change

We began with City of York Council leaders who outlined the region’s climate and housing context. Councillor Jenny Kent and Councillor Michael Pavlovic set out the scale of the challenge and the opportunity ahead for York, reinforcing why cross-sector collaboration matters.

Shaun Gibbons, Head of Carbon Reduction at City of York Council, welcomed attendees and highlighted the central role that retrofit will play in local net zero plans. His framing set a strong tone for a day focused on solutions rather than barriers.

We then heard from national organisations who are helping shape the direction of retrofit across the UK. Sophie Kempthorne from Innovate UK spoke about innovation in local net zero delivery and why new models like the One Stop Shop are unlocking progress in communities. Josiah Lockhart, Chief Executive of Changeworks, provided valuable insight into emerging national policy and how local authorities can use it to accelerate retrofit.

James Farrar, Chief Executive of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, emphasised the economic and social value of retrofit for the region, highlighting opportunities for green skills, long term resilience and local job creation.

The ROSSY Partnership: Designing a Better Journey for Residents

At the centre of the morning was an in-depth look at the development of ROSSY. Brightsparks Agency, City of York Council, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, York Community Energy, Abundance Investments, Energy Systems Catapult and the Stockholm Environment Institute have all contributed expertise and lived experience to shape a model that works for local people.

Andy Simpson, Managing Director of YorEnergy and Brightsparks Agency, walked attendees through how the One Stop Shop model was built and why the customer experience was placed at the heart of every decision. From early research to user testing, he explained how the team designed a process that is clear, supportive and built on trust.

Bruce Davis, Non Executive Director at Abundance Investments, explored accessible finance solutions for residents. He highlighted how future-facing partnerships between finance institutions, councils and delivery organisations can open up retrofit for more households.

Lucy Allis, Local Authorities Climate Action Coordinator at York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, followed with an update on the York Retrofit Network and the emerging regional retrofit strategy. Her session demonstrated how local authorities, housing providers and installers are working together to strengthen skills, share learning and align ambitions.

Rob Hargraves, Skills Advisor for Decarbonising Homes at Energy Systems Catapult, showcased virtual demonstrator tools that help residents understand what retrofit could look like in their own homes. His focus on skills underscored the importance of preparing the local workforce to meet growing demand.

We also heard from Ivana Jakubkova and Kevin Merrison, two highly experienced retrofit assessors from York Community Energy, who shared their insights on effective resident engagement. Their community-led perspective was a reminder that trust and relationships remain at the heart of successful retrofit.

Jamie Keats, Director of Wrapt Homes, brought the conversation to life with real examples from demonstrator properties, showing the practical impact of retrofit on energy use and comfort.

Closing the morning, Luke Gooding from the Stockholm Environment Institute drew on national research to explain why locally owned One Stop Shops are central to successful retrofit. His reflections strengthened the case for long term, place-based models like YorEnergy.

A Look at the National and Local Landscape

The afternoon began with an overview of the national retrofit picture from Andrew Rice, Programme Manager at the MCS Foundation. He explored accreditation, installer capacity and policy trends shaping the UK retrofit industry.

Lucy Allis then returned to discuss the local outlook and the next steps for scaling delivery across York and North Yorkshire. Her update reinforced that the building blocks for long term success are now in place. A strong network, shared strategy and committed supply chain partners.

Four local businesses also took to the stage for a mini exhibitor showcase, demonstrating the strength and diversity of retrofit expertise already active in the region.

Welcoming Local Residents to Begin Their Journey

The doors then opened to homeowners and residents interested in improving their homes. The energy shifted and the Guildhall filled with people exploring options, asking questions and speaking directly with suppliers and advisers.

Our Head of Operations, Robbie Barr, welcomed residents and introduced YorEnergy. He outlined how the service guides people through the entire journey from the first question, to a whole home assessment, to quotes from trusted local suppliers and support accessing finance or grants.

The exhibitor hall featured more than fifteen local organisations, including installers, energy advisers, community groups and product specialists. Residents had the chance to explore practical solutions, build confidence and create a clear plan for taking their next steps.

A Region Ready to Lead

Retrofit Futures 2025 left a strong impression. The level of collaboration, ambition and practical insight shared throughout the day showed that York and North Yorkshire are well positioned to lead the way in community-focused retrofit.

A few themes stood out:

• Locally owned solutions work. The ROSSY partnership has shown what is possible when councils, community groups, researchers and delivery partners come together.

• Residents want support they can trust. YorEnergy now exists to fill that gap.

• The supply chain is growing. Local installers and specialists are ready to deliver quality, future-facing work.

• Retrofit is a shared mission. It improves homes, strengthens communities and supports climate goals.

Retrofit Futures 2025 was more than an event. It was a statement of intent. With strong partnerships, engaged communities and a clear pathway forward, our region is ready to accelerate retrofit in a way that is fair, accessible and rooted in local strengths.

If you are interested in starting your journey to a more energy efficient home, you can book an adviser call here, or if you would like to learn more about how YorEnergy can support your organisation, please email hello@yorenergy.co.uk.