Gentoo colleagues have recently completed a 6-week Domestic Retrofit training course in partnership with RE:GEN Groups’ RE:geon Training.
The training will support our colleagues to successfully adapt over 10,500 homes to reach an EPC Band C, or above, by 2030.
We began work with partners RE:GEN on our £1.24 million programme to improve the energy efficiency of homes in Whinfell, Washington, early last year. The work is part of a wider programme that will see the energy efficiency of 600 Gentoo properties improved. Around £2.6 million has been invested into the wider scheme, with half of the programme being funded through the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.
The Retrofit training course has ensured our colleagues receive the appropriate training, developing their knowledge and skills so that we deliver the optimum Retrofit experience, with the properties in Whinfell undergoing an external refurbishment including external wall insulation and flat roof insulation. The retrofit works have vastly improved the energy performance of each property, with tenants already feeling the benefits of increased insulation, lowering energy bills.
Steven Cook, Head of Asset Sustainability at Gentoo said: "I’m delighted our colleagues have successfully completed a Retrofit training course thanks to our partners at RE:GEN Group.
"The training has developed our colleagues with new knowledge and skills so that we deliver the best service for our tenants through improving the energy efficiency of their properties, contributing to warmer, healthier homes as well as reducing energy demand and fuel poverty.
"We have recently retrofitted 20 properties at Whinfell, Washington, improving the homes performance to an EPC Band C. The Whinfell project and wider energy efficiency works being delivered is resulting in us exceeding our own performance expectations and we have an ambitious investment plan that will drive us forward to our 2030 Band C requirement."
