The National Insulation Association (NIA) announced on 25 May 2023 that it has formed a new membership organisation, the National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG), with a core mission to deliver energy efficiency measures and low carbon technologies at scale across the UK's housing stock1. The group has 17 founding members and Gemserv, a professional services consultancy, will act as its secretariat1.
The NHDG's membership basis comprises Tier 1 contractors and energy suppliers specialising in retrofit residential decarbonisation at scale, and it will support installations across all housing tenure types, including social, owner-occupied and private rental homes1. The NIA said the group will focus on three core areas: growing the retrofit supply chain, advising on policy, and stimulating innovation1. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, devolved governments and other sector stakeholders support the group's focus on these three streams, according to the NIA1.
Derek Horrocks, the NIA's chairman, will also chair the NHDG1. He said the formation of the group and the commitment from founding members was a defining moment for the industry, and that central and devolved governments need to hear a strong message from experienced contractors confirming the supply chain's ability to deliver on current and future targets1.
"The continued long-term government commitment for the decarbonisation of 26 million UK homes to meet net zero targets by 2050 is critical, and we have already seen this ramp up significantly with £6.6 billion of Government investment over the current parliament and a further £6 billion pledged between 2025 and 2028 for the sector."
The NIA said its members have a track record of delivering large-scale, PAS:2035 compliant installations funded by government schemes such as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the Home Upgrade Grant, and have experience of home energy efficiency improvements in the private rental and owner-occupier market under schemes such as the Energy Company Obligation1. Horrocks cited a need for 200,000 more competent retrofitters by 2030, and said the group would work on skills and innovation, including the digitalisation of retrofit, increased off-site solutions and the development of finance solutions1.
The full list of founding members is: Baxter Kelly; Bell Group; British Gas Services; E.ON Energy Solutions; Equans Regeneration; Evolve Home Energy Solutions; InstaGroup; Mace Group; Mears Group; Osborne Carbon Neutral Solutions; OVO Energy Solutions; PHS Home Solutions; Saving Energy Ltd; SERS Energy Solutions Group; Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd; United Living; and VINCI Construction1. NIA members that already meet the NHDG's membership criteria will automatically be eligible to join1.
Why it matters for households
The group is a supply-side body: it represents contractors and energy suppliers rather than households, and its stated purpose is to give the retrofit industry one voice on policy and delivery1. For a household considering energy efficiency work, the practical relevance lies in who carries out installations and under which schemes. The NIA points to government-funded programmes such as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, the Home Upgrade Grant and the Energy Company Obligation as the routes through which its members already deliver work1, and the NHDG says it will support installations across social, owner-occupied and private rental homes1. The regulation and policy landscape that governs these schemes, including standards such as PAS:2035, is where the group says it will advise1. The NIA also identifies a shortfall of 200,000 competent retrofitters by 20301, which bears on how quickly work can be delivered and on the availability of qualified installers.
What happens next
No timetable for the group's first work programme, publications or policy positions has been reported. The NIA said NHDG founding members and eligible NIA members will take part, and that Gemserv will act as secretariat1.