Retrofit project management: Keeping projects on track through to completion

Q&A with Gareth Field

Successful retrofit relies on coordination across multiple stakeholders, from contractors and installers to designers and suppliers. Projects only succeed when everything is aligned, keeping projects on track, delivered efficiently, to the highest standard. And, in the case of Warm Homes funded retrofit projects, compliant with grant requirements.

As funding unlocks more opportunities for retrofit, strong project management approaches will become increasingly critical to ensure delivery meets high demands.

We spoke to Gareth Field, RISE Supply Chain Lead, about the realities of retrofit project management, the challenges facing the supply chain and the approaches that help projects succeed.

If project management falls short, how can this impact on delivery?

Every retrofit project requires project management. This includes anything from project sequencing to ordering materials, overseeing planning applications and procurement, to communications and resident engagement planning and more. It’s critical that there are project management skills on your team and processes in place, because small coordination issues can quickly become costly delivery problems. 

Poor sequencing and coordination can cause delays, costs to overrun or resident refusals. While miscommunications between teams can contribute to costly mistakes, increased risk and missed targets.

Quality assurance must also be an integral part of your project process, and accounted for in your timelines. If this falls through the gaps, ineligible measures may be fitted, or deadlines missed. This can impact on compliance with grant requirements and therefore grant eligibility.

This is why we have developed a new RISE Project Management Support Series. Through a mix of practical Masterclasses, a collaborative Roundtable, and supporting advice packs, you’ll gain real‑world insight into key areas such as sequencing and quality assurance, translating technical design into site delivery and how to better support Project Managers in practice. 

This kicks off with a collection of Masterclasses in June, and a package of Advice Packs will be live by the end of the month.

One of the themes this month is moving from the technical design phase to onsite delivery. Why is that often such a challenge?

Turning drawings, specifications and manufacturer guidance into clear, buildable actions on site isn’t always straightforward. There can easily be misunderstandings – this will impact on the project process, potentially pushing back timelines or even requiring further work to fix mistakes. Ensuring you comply with the PAS2030 prescribed materials is essential – if these materials are incorrectly fitted it can lead to delays and costly rework.

What does good project management look like?

Project management principles will be needed in every project, even if there’s not a dedicated role – a Project Manager, Project Officer, or Programme Manager for example. This means that retrofit contractors must understand the components of project management to ensure that the work is being managed effectively. 

Developing project management skills will help you to deliver the project on time, within budget and to the planned specification. With experience, you can spot issues before they arise and mitigate risks, while strong contingency plans will help you to manage situations if things do go wrong. Having project managers in place can also help you to learn from previous projects when looking ahead and planning future projects. 

In all, this contributes to a more efficient delivery of retrofit, delivering greater returns for businesses, and increasing the capacity for more work. This leads to the delivery of more warm, healthy homes for residents, benefiting everyone involved in the project. 

As the demand for retrofit projects continues to grow, so will the demand for project managers. What is being done to bring more talent into the sector?

If you are looking to start a career in project management, you can start with either qualifications or transferable experience. Many roles provide transferable skills which are valuable to a career in project management. 

While there are specific project management degrees at university level, many other degrees,

qualifications, or apprenticeships also provide skills that can transfer to project management, including business or administration qualifications.

Read the Advice Pack: Retrofit careers pathways – project management jobs for more on routes to roles, examples of relevant qualifications and progression opportunities.