Considering a career in retrofit?
Colchester Borough Homes’ senior retrofit adviser Ben Payne shares his experience and motivations for joining the sector
“I found a career in retrofit, which I absolutely love and I’m really passionate about.”
After more than two decades working in IT, Ben Payne made the move to retrofit.
Initially propelled into the sector after he was made redundant, Ben saw the situation as an opportunity to follow his passions and try something new.
He said: “I was interested in architecture, but I was also interested in saving the planet and the environmental impact that we all have.
“I read about all the great things which I could potentially achieve by doing a retrofit course and I haven’t looked back.”
I read about all the great things which I could potentially achieve by doing a retrofit course and I haven’t looked back.
Retrofit is the process of upgrading existing buildings with new technology, materials or systems which help to improve their energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact and enhance comfort for building use.
Insulation, solar panels, energy efficient lighting and low-or-no-emission heating systems are all common upgrades installed with an aim to improve energy efficiency.
Buildings that have a higher energy efficiency also have lower operational costs, meaning they’re usually warmer, more comfortable and cheaper for residents to heat.
With more than 20 per cent of all UK greenhouse gas emissions attributed to residential property, retrofit upgrades can also make a significant step towards the UK’s net zero 2050 ambitions.
The government’s Warm Homes Plan states a target to retrofit five million properties by 2030, making the opportunity for growth within the sector clear.
Ben added: “If you have the passion and a drive to be able to retrain into a different career, I personally think that it’s a great thing to do.
“It might be scary, but you’ll never look back.”
Watch our short video below to hear more about Ben’s journey and his advice for anyone considering a career in the industry.
