Workforce 2050 highlights the critical importance of developing a skilled workforce and optimising the supply chain – particularly in the UK’s housing industry – with a specific focus on retrofitting.
Recognising the vital role of Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in driving innovation, the programme initiated a series of workshops and roundtables. These included BuiltConnect 2024 –held at Connected Places Catapult’s office in London in February – aimed at understanding the barriers to market entry for new SMEs developing solutions in the retrofit market.
This initiative sought to foster a supportive environment for SMEs, enabling them to contribute significantly to the transformation of the housing sector.
In addition, the establishment of the Homes and Housing Advisory Board signifies a concerted effort in the market to integrate existing initiatives and develop place-based approaches that prioritise the health and wellbeing of residents, while enhancing climate resilience.
Through these multi-disciplinary activities and challenge-led research, the programme has been exploring the transformative potential of retrofit in creating healthier communities and bolstering climate resilience. As we continue to navigate the challenges of the future, we hope to draw inspiration from these insights and collectively work towards building homes that not only shelter us, but also nurture our wellbeing and safeguard the planet for generations to come.
