**London**: A new public sector framework, the Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9), has appointed 126 consultants to assist in improving energy efficiency of social housing and public buildings, while addressing skills shortages and promoting local supply chains until February 2029.
A total of 126 specialist consultants and contractors have been appointed to a significant new public sector framework unveiled by the LHC Procurement Group (LHCPG). This initiative, named the Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9) framework, is set to run until February 2029 and aims to assist public sector clients and registered social landlords in accessing vetted local suppliers proficient in assessing and retrofitting the country’s social housing and public sector buildings.
According to Roofing Today Magazine, the N9 framework grants access through LHCPG’s five regional business units and encompasses a variety of retrofitting services. These services include consultancy, multi-disciplinary works, building insulation and performance improvements, low-carbon heating systems, as well as control and management systems. Additionally, it addresses electrical services, which incorporate electric vehicle (EV) charging and solar photovoltaic (PV) installations.
One of the key purposes of the framework is to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings, facilitating the decarbonisation of existing housing stock and public buildings in alignment with future climate and carbon reduction objectives. The launch of this framework marks the first time since LHCPG achieved its Gold Standard verification that new frameworks are being introduced across all regions.
The framework also implements a new social value strategy, intending to monitor and report on the impact of projects undertaken through the N9 framework. The LHCPG plans to collaborate with the appointed companies and their clients to evaluate the value added across several priority areas, including individual wellbeing, social mobility, and environmental improvements.
Clive Feeney, the Group CEO of LHCPG, emphasised the framework’s significance in supporting local authorities and housing associations in achieving the UK’s ambitious decarbonisation objectives announced at COP29. “As a country, we are now aiming for an 81% cut in emissions by 2035,” he stated, highlighting the urgency for a significant shift towards low-carbon retrofits in social homes and a considerable reduction in emissions relating to 1.9 million non-domestic public buildings.
The framework also addresses the challenges posed by the current skills shortages within the trades and retrofit professions, which can hinder the capabilities of public sector suppliers. To combat this issue, the N9 framework aims to create new opportunities and establish a secure workflow for local businesses. It encourages collaboration while also prioritising the development of skills among the next generation of contractors.
In practice, the N9 framework will direct selected companies to local retrofit skills academies and provide educational masterclasses. They will also have access to best practice working groups. This initiative is aimed at ensuring that all appointed companies can meet mandatory retrofit standards within a two-year onboarding period.
Furthermore, Feeney noted that many appointed companies already possess the necessary certifications to access various government funding streams. However, for newer suppliers who may not have these qualifications, the LHCPG has established a support structure whereby these companies will have a two-year period to attain the relevant certifications, bolstered by extensive assistance provided by LHCPG.
The N9 framework outlines six distinct workstreams: Consultancy, which centres on energy policy strategy and grant funding; Multi-Disciplinary Works for varied technology installations; Building Insulation and Performance focusing on multiple insulation types; Heating Systems covering a range of solutions; Control and Management Systems addressing building management needs; and Electrical services responding to the growing demands for energy solutions and EV infrastructure.
In conjunction with the fixed framework, LHCPG has introduced a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for low carbon retrofit servicing and maintenance works, allowing companies to join throughout its duration instead of adhering to a fixed timeline.
The comprehensive list of appointed contractors reflects a diverse range of expertise, including firms such as Alcema, Aston Heating, E.ON UK Green Funding Solutions, and Vinci Construction UK, among others. These companies have been selected across various regional categories such as LHC – Midlands, London and South East, as well as several others, showcasing the framework’s extensive reach and collaborative approach to decarbonisation efforts in the public sector.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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