Press releases
Monday 2nd March 2026
New report sets out how social housing tenants can power the UK’s green jobs revolution.
A major new report published today by the Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance sets out how social housing tenants can play a central role in delivering the UK’s net-zero ambitions while unlocking long-term, skilled employment in communities across the country.
Delivering for our Communities: Green Jobs and Skills in Social Housing brings together national survey data, in-depth stakeholder engagement, and policy analysis to explore how investment in green homes can create a “virtuous circle” of warmer, energy-efficient homes, stronger local economies, and new green career pathways for social housing residents.
The research, commissioned by the Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance and conducted by Evidence First in partnership with Opergy, finds that social housing is uniquely placed to drive large-scale retrofit and new green housebuilding. With 4.5 million social homes in England and concentrated housing portfolios, housing associations can offer the long-term pipeline certainty needed to grow the UK’s green workforce at scale.
However, the report warns that current skills shortages, stop-start funding cycles, and fragmented delivery systems risk constraining progress. Consultation evidence from experienced industry stakeholders highlights significant gaps in retrofit coordinators and assessors, heat pump installers, insulation specialists and multi-trade operatives – all of which will be essential to meeting national targets for decarbonising homes and contributing to the nation’s broader net zero goals.
At the same time, the report finds that social landlords are already investing heavily in employability and skills. Survey respondents representing 800,000 homes reported supporting 14,000 residents into employment and training in the last year alone, achieving nearly 12,000 positive outcomes. Almost all provide apprenticeships, work placements and construction-related training, alongside wraparound support for those facing barriers to work.
The piece argues that with the right long-term funding, coordinated national leadership and place-based collaboration, social housing can become the engine of a national green homes programme, ensuring that tenants share directly in the jobs created by retrofit and sustainable housebuilding.
The Alliance are calling for longer-term funding windows, strengthened workforce planning, and explicit integration of employability support within green housing programmes to ensure positive impacts are felt in practice across communities.
The Alliance welcomes recent Government commitments, including the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) and the Warm Homes Plan, but goes further to advance the opportunity presented by this national investment.
It proposes a series of practical recommendations, including:
• Stable, multi-year funding to enable workforce and apprenticeship planning.
• Reform of quality and regulatory systems to reduce delivery bottlenecks.
• A single national workforce strategy to address retrofit skills shortages.
• Fund dedicated long-term employment support programmes (such as JobsPlus) to help tenants furthest from the labour market access green jobs.
• Stronger coordination between Government departments, the Warm Homes Agency, and Mayoral Strategic Authorities.
Lynsey Sweeney, Managing Director of Communities that Work and lead spokesperson for the Alliance, said:
“Social housing is uniquely placed to drive the UK’s green transition in a way that delivers real, lasting benefits for communities. This report shows that with the right long-term investment and coordination we can make a genuine impact, delivering warmer, more energy-efficient homes, thousands of skilled green jobs, and clear career pathways for residents. We look forward to collaborating with the Government to unlock the full potential of housing associations and scale up long-term workforce development in this area moving forward.”
The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance, convened by Communities that Work, brings together leaders from across housing, employment and sustainability to ensure that the UK’s green transition delivers inclusive growth and opportunity for all.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
• The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance is convened by Communities that Work is the national body in England dedicated to connecting social housing providers, employers, and Government to improve employment and earnings outcomes for working-age tenants and residents. Led by our social landlord members, who own and manage 1.6 million homes across England, we support individuals to access meaningful, rewarding work that sustains livelihoods, secures households, and creates safe, healthy communities.
• The Alliance unites key leaders within the social housing, net zero homes and employment sectors. Our ambition is to work collaboratively with policymakers to ensure that the social housing sector is best supported to realise the ambitions of net zero homes and create skills and job pathways for communities across England. You can read more information here.
• The JobsPlus pilot programme is a community-led employment scheme that aims to help people into work through on-site employment services, community support, and financial incentives. The programme began in July 2024, with housing associations and their residents in ten sites across England. You can read more information here.
• For any media enquiries, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Monday 22nd September 2025
New Research Launches to Strengthen Social Housing’s Role in Green Jobs and Retrofit Skills
The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance, led by Communities that Work (CtW), has announced a major new research project to explore how the social housing sector can drive forward skills, employment, and green workforce development, particularly in the fast-growing area of domestic retrofit.
Working in partnership with Evidence First and Opergy, the Alliance will deliver a comprehensive review of employment and skills support across the social housing sector. The research will shine a spotlight on how housing providers are already investing in jobs and training, while also identifying the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in building a skilled workforce for the UK’s green transition.
The project will focus on two key areas:
- Social housing and employment support
A survey of CtW members, housing associations, and sector stakeholders will gather up-to-date data on the scale and impact of employment-related investment. This will map how housing organisations are supporting tenants into work, while also aligning with wider government strategies such as Get Britain Working, Skills England, and DESNZ’s Warm Homes/workforce policies. - Housing, growth and green jobs
The second part of the research will bring together workforce estimates and policy analysis to understand the opportunities and barriers in growing a green workforce. This will include: - Reviewing existing skills systems across the UK’s nations and regions.
- Identifying the blocks that hold back green jobs growth and assessing how they could be overcome.
- Highlighting the policy interventions that could accelerate retrofit skills development and workforce expansion.
- Exploring links between housing, Jobs Plus sites, and green job creation, with recommendations for how the housing sector could play a larger role in hosting and advancing new green employment opportunities.
The outcome will be a high-impact report, designed to inform policymakers and housing leaders, while providing practical insights to help social housing providers improve their skills and employment support, particularly around retrofit, one of the most critical areas in achieving the UK’s net zero targets.
Speaking on behalf of the Alliance, Lynsey Sweeney, said:
“Social housing has always been a foundation for opportunity, and this research will show how the sector can help lead the UK’s response to the climate crisis by supporting the creation of a skilled, green workforce. By understanding what works, and where the barriers lie, we can help shape policies and actions that deliver real benefits for tenants, communities, and the economy.”
The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance brings together partners across housing, employment, and skills, with the shared mission of ensuring that the transition to a green economy creates inclusive opportunities and good jobs for communities nationwide.
The survey is available here, with the deadline for responses on Monday 13 October 2025.
Note to editors:
- The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance is convened by Communities that Work, the national body representing social landlords' employment and skills work.
- The Alliance unites partners from across the social housing, employment and environmental sectors to shape policy and practice for a sustainable future.
- You can read more information here.
Monday 9th September 2025
New Alliance to unlock green jobs potential in social housing communities
A new national partnership has launched to help the UK meet its net zero goals while unlocking skills, employment and economic growth opportunities for social housing communities.
The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance brings together leaders from the social housing, net zero homes and employment sectors to ensure that the UK is fully equipped to support the transition to sustainable, low-carbon homes.
Spearheaded by Communities that Work, the Alliance's mission is clear: to connect the delivery of net zero housing with the creation of meaningful green jobs and careers pathways, ensuring that social housing tenants are not left behind in the green transition. By fostering collaboration between housing providers, skills agencies and employers, the Alliance aims to generate more opportunities for people across communities to thrive in the growing green economy.
The UK faces a pressing challenge to retrofit millions of existing housing stock and deliver a host of decarbonisation measures to meet net zero commitments. This demand is driving an urgent need for skills in areas such energy efficiency, renewable energy installation, sustainable construction and waste reduction.
To address these challenges, the Alliance is commissioning new research to map the relationship between social housing communities and the green jobs market. This research will examine the barriers to building a skilled green workforce, explore successful regional initiatives, and make policy recommendations to Government and industry.
Lynsey Sweeney, Managing Director, Communities that Work and Chair of the Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance, said:
"The drive to decarbonise our homes is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Social housing communities are at the heart of this mission. By bringing together expertise from housing, employment and sustainability, we can ensure that the green transition delivers both environmental benefits and economic opportunity for those who need it most".
Jo Hannan, Head of the Fusion21 Foundation, said: “As a founding funder, we’re proud to support the Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance. This partnership unites the housing, skills, and employment sectors to tackle the green skills gap head-on - by shaping the conversation and opening doors for greater opportunities in social housing communities as the UK moves towards net zero.”
Note to editors:
- The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance is convened by Communities that Work, the national body representing social landlords' employment and skills work.
- The Alliance unites partners from across the social housing, employment and environmental sectors to shape policy and practice for a sustainable future.
- You can read more information here.
About Fusion21 and the Fusion21 Foundation
Fusion21 is a national social enterprise specialising in efficient and impactful public sector procurement and visible social value.
The Fusion21 Foundation was set up in 2015 as a registered charity, to help build brighter futures for the communities that Fusion21 operates in. Since its inception, the Foundation has given over £4 million in grants and has committed £2 million in social investment.
The Foundation has three areas of focus: employment and skills; health and wellbeing; and financial inclusion and resilience.
Monday 22nd September 2025
New Research Launches to Strengthen Social Housing’s Role in Green Jobs and Retrofit Skills
The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance, led by Communities that Work (CtW), has announced a major new research project to explore how the social housing sector can drive forward skills, employment, and green workforce development, particularly in the fast-growing area of domestic retrofit.
Working in partnership with Evidence First and Opergy, the Alliance will deliver a comprehensive review of employment and skills support across the social housing sector. The research will shine a spotlight on how housing providers are already investing in jobs and training, while also identifying the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in building a skilled workforce for the UK’s green transition.
The project will focus on two key areas:
- Social housing and employment support
A survey of CtW members, housing associations, and sector stakeholders will gather up-to-date data on the scale and impact of employment-related investment. This will map how housing organisations are supporting tenants into work, while also aligning with wider government strategies such as Get Britain Working, Skills England, and DESNZ’s Warm Homes/workforce policies. - Housing, growth and green jobs
The second part of the research will bring together workforce estimates and policy analysis to understand the opportunities and barriers in growing a green workforce. This will include: - Reviewing existing skills systems across the UK’s nations and regions.
- Identifying the blocks that hold back green jobs growth and assessing how they could be overcome.
- Highlighting the policy interventions that could accelerate retrofit skills development and workforce expansion.
- Exploring links between housing, Jobs Plus sites, and green job creation, with recommendations for how the housing sector could play a larger role in hosting and advancing new green employment opportunities.
The outcome will be a high-impact report, designed to inform policymakers and housing leaders, while providing practical insights to help social housing providers improve their skills and employment support, particularly around retrofit, one of the most critical areas in achieving the UK’s net zero targets.
Speaking on behalf of the Alliance, Lynsey Sweeney, said:
“Social housing has always been a foundation for opportunity, and this research will show how the sector can help lead the UK’s response to the climate crisis by supporting the creation of a skilled, green workforce. By understanding what works, and where the barriers lie, we can help shape policies and actions that deliver real benefits for tenants, communities, and the economy.”
The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance brings together partners across housing, employment, and skills, with the shared mission of ensuring that the transition to a green economy creates inclusive opportunities and good jobs for communities nationwide.
The survey is available here, with the deadline for responses on Monday 13 October 2025.
Note to editors:
- The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance is convened by Communities that Work, the national body representing social landlords' employment and skills work.
- The Alliance unites partners from across the social housing, employment and environmental sectors to shape policy and practice for a sustainable future.
- You can read more information here.
Monday 9th September 2025
New Alliance to unlock green jobs potential in social housing communities
A new national partnership has launched to help the UK meet its net zero goals while unlocking skills, employment and economic growth opportunities for social housing communities.
The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance brings together leaders from the social housing, net zero homes and employment sectors to ensure that the UK is fully equipped to support the transition to sustainable, low-carbon homes.
Spearheaded by Communities that Work, the Alliance's mission is clear: to connect the delivery of net zero housing with the creation of meaningful green jobs and careers pathways, ensuring that social housing tenants are not left behind in the green transition. By fostering collaboration between housing providers, skills agencies and employers, the Alliance aims to generate more opportunities for people across communities to thrive in the growing green economy.
The UK faces a pressing challenge to retrofit millions of existing housing stock and deliver a host of decarbonisation measures to meet net zero commitments. This demand is driving an urgent need for skills in areas such energy efficiency, renewable energy installation, sustainable construction and waste reduction.
To address these challenges, the Alliance is commissioning new research to map the relationship between social housing communities and the green jobs market. This research will examine the barriers to building a skilled green workforce, explore successful regional initiatives, and make policy recommendations to Government and industry.
Lynsey Sweeney, Managing Director, Communities that Work and Chair of the Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance, said:
"The drive to decarbonise our homes is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Social housing communities are at the heart of this mission. By bringing together expertise from housing, employment and sustainability, we can ensure that the green transition delivers both environmental benefits and economic opportunity for those who need it most".
Jo Hannan, Head of the Fusion21 Foundation, said: “As a founding funder, we’re proud to support the Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance. This partnership unites the housing, skills, and employment sectors to tackle the green skills gap head-on - by shaping the conversation and opening doors for greater opportunities in social housing communities as the UK moves towards net zero.”
Note to editors:
- The Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance is convened by Communities that Work, the national body representing social landlords' employment and skills work.
- The Alliance unites partners from across the social housing, employment and environmental sectors to shape policy and practice for a sustainable future.
- You can read more information here.
About Fusion21 and the Fusion21 Foundation
Fusion21 is a national social enterprise specialising in efficient and impactful public sector procurement and visible social value.
The Fusion21 Foundation was set up in 2015 as a registered charity, to help build brighter futures for the communities that Fusion21 operates in. Since its inception, the Foundation has given over £4 million in grants and has committed £2 million in social investment.
The Foundation has three areas of focus: employment and skills; health and wellbeing; and financial inclusion and resilience.