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New Sector Skills Plan launched to safeguard heritage construction expertise

A new industry-led plan to tackle the skills shortage threatening the UK’s heritage and traditional building sector has been unveiled, with backing from the National Federation of Builders (NFB) and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

The Repair, Maintenance and Improvement (RMI) Heritage and Traditional Build Sector Skills Plan was revealed at the NFB’s Heritage and Traditional Build conference, held at Painters’ Hall, the 16th century home of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers in the City of London, a fitting venue given the subject matter. The plan brings together employers, industry bodies and training providers with the aim of addressing some of the most pressing skills challenges facing the UK’s historic built environment.

New Sector Skills Plan launched to safeguard heritage construction expertise — Cockburn shopping street

Led by the NFB and developed in partnership with a wide range of employers, industry groups, education providers and heritage organisations, the plan identifies five priority areas where collaborative action is needed: workforce development, sector leadership, training provision, net zero and climate change, and procurement. Together, these strands are designed to create clearer routes into heritage construction careers, widen access to specialist training and help safeguard traditional skills for future generations.

The scale of the challenge is considerable. Historic England estimates that there are around 5.5 million traditional, pre-1919 buildings in England, and the organisation’s 2024 Skills Needs Analysis examined the supply and demand for the skills required to repair, maintain and retrofit them. With growing pressure to improve the energy performance of older properties, the need for specialist skills is becoming increasingly important as the UK looks to improve the energy performance of older buildings. CITB is supporting the plan as part of its wider Sector Skills Plans programme, with £3.8 million allocated to the RMI plan covering domestic retrofit and heritage and traditional buildings.

Tim Balcon, chief executive of CITB, said: “The heritage construction sector is responsible for maintaining some of our most important landmarks and buildings. This Sector Skills Plan has been developed by the industry, for the industry, bringing together training providers, employers, and stakeholder organisations to help identify the actions that need to take place to strengthen the future of the workforce.

“CITB is proud to support and invest in this industry-owned initiative, to help give a greater say to employers in how skills support is shaped, while also opening pathways for new entrants and safeguarding specialist expertise for generations to come.”

James Butcher, deputy chief executive of the NFB and industry chair of the plan, described the scale of the task facing the sector. “With one in five homes and one in three commercial properties traditionally built, ensuring that we have a sufficient and competent workforce able to look after these buildings is essential and that is what this plan is all about. Whether it is repairing, maintaining, improving, renovating, restoring, retrofitting or adapting for the future, there is plenty of work to be done but not always the supply chain able to do it.

“This plan acts as a framework, setting out the key skills challenges facing our part of the sector and calling for action from across industry to help tackle them. Protecting heritage and traditional buildings for the future requires a lot of love and attention, and keeping heritage and traditional build skills alive does too.”

Rather than a one-off announcement, the plan has been designed as an ongoing programme of work. The RMI Heritage and Traditional Build Sector Skills Plan is intended to be a live programme of activity that evolves alongside the needs of the industry, ensuring employers can continue to shape skills priorities as market conditions, technologies and workforce requirements change. It builds on groundwork laid earlier in the year, when the NFB first signalled plans for a dedicated heritage skills strategy ahead of the conference.

Several supporting initiatives were launched alongside the plan itself. Among them is an upskilling travel support pilot, which will reimburse eligible employees up to £335 towards travel and accommodation costs for specialist training that is not available locally — a practical response to the geographical gaps in provision that have long made it difficult for smaller firms and rural practitioners to access niche courses. A feasibility study is also being carried out with Historic England, which will explore whether greater visibility of future heritage work could give employers the confidence to invest in training.

The conference also saw the launch of the NFB’s National Heritage Skills Forum, intended to bring industry voices together to strengthen sector leadership and coordination, alongside the development of skills and knowledge statements to support heritage and traditional build occupations and competencies. The forum has a particular purpose beyond general coordination: it has been established partly to address the gap left by the closure of the National Heritage Training Group, which previously provided a national focus for heritage construction skills and training. Its absence has been keenly felt across the sector, and its replacement with an NFB-led body is likely to be welcomed by contractors who have struggled to find a unified voice for heritage skills issues in recent years.

For fleet operators and contractors working across the repair, maintenance and improvement sector, the plan’s emphasis on training provision and workforce development is likely to have practical implications for how specialist teams are recruited, deployed and kept mobile between sites, particularly where training now available only through travel bursaries requires staff to work away from their home base. The net zero and climate change strand of the plan will also be of interest to operators supporting retrofit work, as demand grows for tradespeople who can combine traditional building methods with modern energy efficiency requirements.

With such a significant proportion of the UK’s housing and commercial stock reliant on traditional construction methods, the shortage of appropriately skilled tradespeople has been a long-standing concern for heritage bodies, insurers and local authorities alike. This new plan represents one of the most coordinated attempts yet to bring the various strands of the industry, from training providers to employers and specialist trade bodies, behind a single, evolving framework. Its success will likely depend on how effectively the five priority areas translate into tangible training places, funded pathways and a supply chain capable of meeting demand across both routine maintenance and major restoration projects in the years ahead.

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Heat Pumps Explained: When They Deliver Cheap, Low-Carbon Heat – and When They Don’t

Heat pumps are widely promoted as a cornerstone of the UK’s low-carbon future, offering the promise of efficient, environmentally friendly heating. Yet, as adoption grows, the reality of why heat pumps succeed in certain situations — and why they sometimes fail to deliver on expectations — is nuanced. Understanding the strengths and limitations of this technology is crucial for homeowners, landlords and policymakers alike.

Heat Pumps: When they deliver cheap heat – and when they don’t — Image: E.ON

At their core, heat pumps work by moving heat from one place to another rather than generating it by burning fuel. This fundamental difference gives them a theoretical advantage: a well-designed system can produce three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity it consumes, substantially outperforming traditional gas boilers in terms of energy efficiency. In addition to heating, many heat pumps also provide cooling in the summer, adding year-round functionality that conventional boilers can’t match. Relying on electricity rather than fossil fuels also means fewer direct carbon emissions at the point of use, aligning with broader climate goals and reducing dependence on volatile gas markets.

These benefits are most pronounced in the right circumstances. Well-insulated buildings with a modern building fabric and good thermal retention provide the ideal context for a heat pump to thrive. In such properties, a heat pump can operate consistently and efficiently, spreading low-grade heat evenly and maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures without excessive cycling or supplemental heating. Upgrading to underfloor heating or larger radiators — which deliver heat effectively at the lower flow temperatures typical of heat pumps — can further enhance comfort and performance,

Yet many UK homes, particularly older stock, were built for high-temperature gas boilers and often lack the insulation and airtightness that heat pumps need to perform well. Poor insulation undermines the cost and carbon benefits by letting heat escape faster than the system can replenish it, forcing the pump to run longer and harder and reducing overall efficiency. This mismatch between technology and building fabric helps explain why households sometimes report higher running costs despite heat pumps’ theoretical efficiency advantage — especially in an environment where electricity prices remain significantly higher than gas.

The financial picture complicates matters further. The upfront cost of a heat pump installation far exceeds that of a conventional gas boiler. Typical air-source systems can cost several thousands of pounds, while ground-source versions — which draw heat from the ground rather than the air — can be considerably more expensive still. Even with government incentives like the UK’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which provides grants of up to around £7,500, many households find the initial investment prohibitive, particularly when insulation or heating distribution upgrades are also needed. Critics argue that subsidies disproportionately benefit wealthier households who can afford the upfront costs, limiting the technology’s reach among those who could benefit most from lower energy bills.

Cold weather performance is another area where heat pumps can fall short of expectations. Air-source heat pumps rely on extracting heat from the outside air, a process that becomes more challenging as temperatures drop. Although modern units can function in sub-zero conditions, their efficiency declines — and in very cold spells, some systems may require supplemental electrical heating elements to maintain comfort, eroding the cost benefits. This limitation is less of an issue in milder climates but becomes evident in regions with prolonged cold periods, where heat pumps struggle to match the instantaneous heat output of fossil fuel systems.

Installation quality and system design also play a pivotal role in outcomes. Heat pumps must be sized correctly and integrated into the broader heating system with care. Errors in design — such as incorrect sizing, poor placement, or failing to account for a property’s heat loss — can lead to underperformance, increased energy consumption and even dissatisfaction among owners. Unlike gas boilers, which often provide rapid bursts of heat, heat pumps deliver warmth at a slower, steadier rate. As some homeowners have noted, this “low and slow” approach feels unfamiliar and can be misinterpreted as inadequate heating if expectations aren’t properly managed.

Despite these challenges, many installations do succeed, particularly when broader retrofit strategies are adopted. Combining heat pumps with improvements to insulation, airtightness and heating distribution can unlock long-term savings and comfort gains. Some community buildings and churches, for example, are embracing heat pumps as part of wider sustainability initiatives, reflecting both practical and ethical motivations for low-carbon heating.

In summary, heat pumps can deliver energy-efficient, low-carbon heating and cooling, but their success depends on a combination of good building fabric, careful system design, realistic expectations and supportive policy. In poorly insulated homes or cold climates with high electricity prices, they may struggle to live up to the promise of cheap heat and instead lead to higher bills and dissatisfaction. As the UK pushes toward ambitious climate targets, aligning heat pump deployment with insulation upgrades and clearer communication about costs and performance will be essential to maximise their potential.

Cladding Construction Construction Materials Government Policy Materials

Government enforces legal deadlines for cladding remediation

More than seven years after the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, the UK government has taken decisive action to accelerate the removal of unsafe cladding from buildings across England. In a significant update to the Remediation Acceleration Plan, announced on 17 July 2025, new legal deadlines have been set for landlords to complete remediation works, backed by severe penalties for non-compliance. This move aims to address the ongoing crisis that has left thousands of residents living in unsafe conditions for far too long.

Key Deadlines and Penalties

The updated plan introduces strict timelines for landlords to ensure the safety of their buildings. For buildings over 18 metres in height, all remediation work must be completed by the end of 2029. For buildings between 11 and 18 metres, the deadline is set for the end of 2031. Failure to meet these deadlines without a reasonable excuse will result in criminal prosecution, with potential penalties including unlimited fines and imprisonment. This marks a significant escalation in the government’s approach, aiming to hold landlords accountable and ensure that residents are no longer left in limbo.

Building Height	Remediation Deadline	Penalties for Non-Compliance
Over 18 metres	End of 2029	Criminal prosecution, unlimited fines, imprisonment
11–18 metres	End of 2031	Criminal prosecution, unlimited fines, imprisonment

Legislative Framework

To enforce these deadlines, the government plans to introduce a new Remediation Bill, which will make the duty to remediate a legal requirement. This legislation will also grant powers to bodies such as Homes England and local authorities to step in and carry out remediation works if landlords fail to act, ensuring that progress is made even in cases of non-compliance. The bill is expected to be brought forward as soon as parliamentary time allows, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Funding and Support

Recognising the financial burden on social landlords, the government has committed over £1 billion to support remediation efforts in the social housing sector. This funding aims to level the playing field, giving social landlords equal access to government funding schemes as their private sector counterparts. The Cladding Safety Scheme has been expanded to include buildings under 11 metres in exceptional cases, further broadening the scope of support. Additionally, the Building Safety Levy, set to take effect in October 2026, is expected to raise £3.4 billion over ten years to fund remediation efforts. Exemptions for affordable, supported, and small-scale housing, along with discounts for previously used land, will help balance safety and affordability.

Progress and Challenges

Despite these measures, the pace of remediation has been criticised as too slow. As of June 2025, only 44% of the 2,800 social housing buildings identified with unsafe cladding in England had begun remediation works. This statistic underscores the urgency of the government’s new approach and the need for accelerated action. The plan also includes measures to identify all buildings over 11 metres with unsafe cladding, with a National Remediation System to track progress and ensure transparency. Over £5 million has been allocated to Metro Mayors to develop Local Remediation Acceleration Plans, further supporting regional efforts.

Voices from the Top

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner emphasised the importance of this plan, stating: “More than seven years on from the Grenfell tragedy, thousands of people have been left living in homes across this country with dangerous cladding. The pace of remediation has been far too slow for far too long. We are taking decisive action to right this wrong and make homes safe. Our Remediation Acceleration Plan will ensure those responsible for making buildings safe deliver the change residents need and deserve.”

Building Safety and Fire Minister Alex Norris added: “We are determined to make buildings safe and protect residents. Since publishing our Remediation Acceleration Plan, we’ve made strong progress, and this update goes further to drive accountability and remove barriers to speed up remediation. There is now a clear pathway to remediate every building with unsafe cladding. We expect everyone to play their part in giving residents and leaseholders the peace of mind that they deserve.”

Impact on Stakeholders

This updated plan has wide-ranging implications for various stakeholders:

Landlords and Developers: Faced with legal obligations and potential penalties, landlords and developers must prioritise remediation works to avoid legal repercussions. The Developer Debt Collection programme, involving 53 major developers, aims to recover £700 million for taxpayer-funded remediation, with £120 million expected in 2025/26.
Leaseholders and Residents: The plan offers hope for safer living conditions, though the timelines may still seem distant for those currently residing in affected buildings. Continued support to reduce reliance on measures like Waking Watch is also part of the plan.
Social Housing Providers: With dedicated funding, social housing providers are better equipped to address safety issues, but the scale of the problem requires efficient allocation and utilisation of resources.

Addressing Criticisms

While the government’s plan has been welcomed for its ambition, campaigners from groups like End Our Cladding Scandal have called it “extremely disappointing” and “performative,” citing uncertainties for leaseholders and the need for more immediate action. The long timelines, particularly for medium-rise buildings, may leave some residents feeling vulnerable. The government has responded by emphasizing enforcement, with over 50 local authorities already taking action against 483 buildings and plans to strengthen the Building Safety Regulator’s capacity.

A Path Forward

The government’s latest update to the Remediation Acceleration Plan represents a critical step forward in addressing the unsafe cladding crisis. By setting legal deadlines, introducing robust enforcement mechanisms, and providing substantial funding, the plan aims to ensure that all buildings with unsafe cladding are remediated within specified timeframes. While challenges remain, particularly in accelerating progress and addressing leaseholder concerns, this decisive action signals a commitment to learning from past tragedies and prioritising the safety of residents across England.

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Parliamentary Inquiry into Cladding Remediation

Following ongoing concerns since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, a parliamentary committee has intensified its focus on cladding remediation efforts across the UK. This investigation targets the efficacy, cost, and delivery speed of current remediation programmes, aiming to hold accountable both governmental bodies and stakeholders involved in addressing hazardous cladding.

The inquiry will re-evaluate the deadlines initially set for remediation, especially as the target completion date of June 2020 has long passed. Scrutiny of these timelines seeks to identify delays and any process gaps hindering the removal of dangerous materials.

Given the allocation of £5.1 billion from the government, with an additional £1 billion pledged in the Autumn Budget, the committee’s oversight will encompass how these funds are managed to avoid waste or misuse. This aims to ensure responsible and efficient use of taxpayer resources in supporting safer housing.

Examining the broader government strategy for risk prevention, the committee will question measures taken to prevent future safety hazards. The inquiry will also review changes in building regulations and the influence of industry bodies on policy standards.

With a multi-billion-pound budget dedicated to remediation, challenges remain regarding the equitable distribution of costs between the government and private developers. The committee intends to review agreements with property owners and assess developers’ roles in sharing financial responsibility, especially as remediation expenses continue to grow.

The upcoming sessions will serve as a critical examination of the UK’s progress in cladding remediation, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and the ultimate goal of safeguarding residents.

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Energy efficiency homes for all

At the 2024 Labour Conference, Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, announced a bold commitment to significantly improve the energy efficiency of homes across the UK. In his speech, he outlined Labour’s plan to ensure that both socially and privately rented homes would meet higher energy efficiency standards, with the goal of lifting over one million people out of fuel poverty by 2030.

Ed Miliband said: “We all know that the poorest people in our country often live in cold, draughty homes. …this government will not tolerate this injustice, and we will end it.

“We will go further and faster than promised in our manifesto: ensuring every rented home reaches decent standards of energy efficiency.”

Under the proposed legislation, social and private rent homes will be required to meet an EPC rating of C before they can be rented out.

Miliband criticised the Conservative Party’s legacy of cold and draughty homes, describing it as a “Tory scandal” that Labour is determined to end. He promised to enforce stricter energy performance standards, requiring rented properties to achieve an EPC rating of C, compared to the current minimum of E. This initiative is expected to reduce energy bills for tenants while contributing to the UK’s climate goals by cutting carbon emissions through improved insulation, solar panels, and low-carbon heating systems.

Rebecca Armstrong, CEO of Making Energy Greener, welcomed the move, highlighting the positive impact it would have on vulnerable tenants often living in poorly heated homes. She noted that the EPC rating of C by 2030 would ensure warmer, healthier, and more affordable homes, while emphasising the importance of government support schemes like ECO4 and the Warm Homes Grant to assist landlords in upgrading their properties.

“I am very happy to hear that the government is finally putting pressure on landlords to improve the energy performance of their properties. Far too often, vulnerable people are left living in poorly heated, damp homes, which can have a serious impact on their health and well-being. The new standard of an EPC rating of C by 2030 is a crucial step in pushing up standards across private and social rented properties, helping to ensure that tenants have homes that are warmer, healthier, and more affordable to live in.” she said.

Miliband also stressed Labour’s commitment to clean energy, reiterating the party’s ambition to make the UK a clean energy superpower. By promoting renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydrogen, Labour aims to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels and protect citizens from fluctuating global energy prices.

This ambitious plan reflects Labour’s broader vision of economic and social justice, prioritising energy efficiency as a key tool to address both climate change and inequality.

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700,000 pupils study in schools in need of significant repairs

An estimated 700,000 pupils are currently receiving education in schools across England that are desperately in need of significant repairs or refurbishment.

The escalating backlog of schools requiring urgent attention was underscored in the findings of a critical parliamentary inquiry into the state of the school estate. Members of the Public Accounts Committee, who serve as watchdogs for government spending, expressed concerns that the School Rebuilding Programme has become overly preoccupied with issues related to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

According to the committee, many of the 100 schools yet to be selected for the programme are likely to be chosen based on serious RAAC issues. Consequently, other deteriorating schools are being pushed to the back of the line for funding.

Approximately 700,000 students attend the 1,200 schools under consideration for the SRP. The committee also flagged the Department for Education’s sluggish progress in compiling a comprehensive overview of asbestos presence in the school estate.

The report reveals that as of July 2023, the DfE had incomplete information on asbestos conditions in just over 4% of schools. While this marks an improvement from 7% in May 2022, it still accounts for nearly 1,000 schools. Complicating matters, both RAAC and asbestos can coexist in the same building, creating challenges for addressing these issues.

The report also highlighted that since 2011, an average of 11 teachers or former teachers have succumbed to asbestos-related conditions each year, according to data from the Health and Safety Executive.

The committee is urging the Government to devise a comprehensive package of support and best practices aimed at mitigating the adverse impact on students and teachers in schools that are in poor condition but cannot be immediately addressed.

Dame Meg Hillier MP, chair of the committee, said: “The School Rebuilding Programme was already struggling to stay on track, and DfE lacked a mechanism to direct funding to regions which need it most.

“It risks being blown further off course by concerns over RAAC, and many schools in dire need of help will not receive it as a result.

“The images of classroom ceilings collapsed onto empty school desks released in recent months are not just searing indictments of a deteriorating school estate.

“They are chilling reminders of absolute catastrophe averted through sheer luck.

“Given the poor condition of so many of these buildings, the Government’s prime challenge now is to keep the safety of children and staff absolutely paramount.”

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