Retrofit Grant and Funding Consultancy framework

This is worth being clear about because the two frameworks address related but distinct needs. The Retrofit Grant and Funding Consultancy framework is for organisations that want expert advice on the full landscape of funding available to them, to help develop a funding strategy, identify eligible programmes, and make applications before deciding how to procure physical works separately. The ECO Funded Retrofit Works framework is for organisations that have already decided they want ECO funding specifically and want a single supplier to secure that funding and deliver the retrofit works under one managed service. If you are at an early stage and are not yet sure which funding routes are right for your organisation, or you need help making the case to your board for a funded retrofit programme, this is the right framework to start with.

The funding landscape for retrofit in Scotland includes a number of programmes operating at different levels. At a Scottish Government level, the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund provides capital support for decarbonising heating systems in social housing. Warmer Homes Scotland supports energy efficiency improvements for households in or at risk of fuel poverty. At a UK Government level, various capital programmes and obligations, including the Energy Company Obligation, provide additional routes to funding. Local authority programmes and area-based schemes offer further opportunities in some parts of Scotland. The picture changes regularly as programmes open, close, and are replaced, which is precisely why having a specialist consultant monitoring the landscape on your behalf is valuable. Consultants on this framework will give you an up-to-date assessment of what is available and what your organisation is eligible for at the point of engagement. 

The Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund is the Scottish Government’s primary mechanism for supporting social landlords to replace fossil fuel heating systems with low and zero carbon alternatives. It provides capital grant funding towards the cost of installing heat pumps, heat networks, and other low carbon heating technologies in social housing. Eligibility is based on a combination of factors including the current heating system in the properties, the proposed replacement technology, and the organisation’s ability to demonstrate a credible delivery plan. Applications are assessed competitively, and the strength of the application, including the quality of the supporting evidence and the robustness of the delivery plan, significantly affects the outcome. Consultants on this framework have experience preparing successful applications and can help you build the strongest possible case. 

In principle yes and combining funding sources is often the most effective way to deliver a comprehensive retrofit programme that addresses multiple elements of a property. However, the rules around combining different funding streams are complex and vary between programmes. Some funders place restrictions on the use of their funding alongside other public grants. Others require specific procurement routes or reporting arrangements that need to be built into the programme design from the outset. Getting specialist advice before committing to a blended funding approach is essential to avoid inadvertently breaching funding conditions or creating an audit exposure. Consultants on this framework are experienced in navigating these complexities and can help you structure a programme that draws on multiple sources compliantly. 

A compelling business case for retrofit investment needs to do several things. It needs to set out the current state of the stock clearly, including EPC profiles, heating system types, and the gap between where the stock is now and where it needs to get to. It needs to set out the cost of getting there, with realistic estimates based on current market rates. It needs to identify the funding available to offset that cost and set out a realistic, phased delivery plan. And it needs to address the cost of inaction, including the regulatory risk, the reputational risk, and the ongoing cost of maintaining inefficient properties that are expensive for tenants to heat. Consultants on this framework can support you through each of these elements, producing a business case document that gives your board the information they need to make an informed decision about the level and timing of investment. 

The Scottish Housing Regulator monitors registered social landlords across a range of performance areas, including the management and maintenance of housing stock. While the Regulator does not currently set specific targets for energy performance or decarbonisation, it does expect landlords to have credible plans in place for managing their assets and addressing known risks. As the regulatory framework around energy efficiency and net zero continues to develop, the expectation on landlords to demonstrate progress on retrofit is likely to increase. Having a documented funding strategy, prepared with specialist support through a compliant framework, is a practical way to demonstrate to the Regulator that your organisation is approaching this challenge seriously and with appropriate governance in place. 

It depends on the scope of the work. A targeted engagement focused on a single funding application, such as a Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund bid, might run over a few months. A broader engagement covering funding strategy development, stock data analysis, and ongoing monitoring of the funding landscape is more likely to run over a year or longer, particularly if it is supporting a phased retrofit programme. The framework supports both types of engagement, and the call-off contract can be structured to reflect the specific scope and duration of work you need. Our team can help you define the scope and structure the call-off in a way that gives you the flexibility to extend the engagement if your requirements develop. 

The Sustainable Procurement Duty requires Scottish public bodies to consider how their procurement activity can contribute to economic, social, and environmental wellbeing. Procuring retrofit funding consultancy through this framework supports that duty in several ways. It gives your organisation access to expertise that will help maximise the environmental impact of your retrofit investment. It provides a compliant, auditable procurement route that meets the requirements of the Procurement Reform Act. And by helping your organisation access funding that supports local retrofit delivery, it contributes to the wider economic benefits of retrofit investment in Scottish communities. Our team can advise on how to structure your engagement with the framework in a way that supports your wider sustainable procurement obligations. 

When evaluating funding consultants, the most important factors are depth of knowledge of the specific funding programmes relevant to your organisation, track record of successful applications on behalf of similar organisations, understanding of the Scottish regulatory and policy context, and the ability to work effectively with your internal team rather than operating in isolation. All consultants on this framework were assessed against these criteria as part of the tender evaluation, with quality accounting for 70% of the assessment. That means the organisations on this framework have already demonstrated these capabilities to a standard that PfH Scotland has verified. When running a mini-competition, you can build additional evaluation criteria that reflect your specific requirements, such as experience with a particular funding programme or knowledge of a specific property type in your stock.