Over 130 attendees from the energy efficiency industry joined the National Insulation Association’s (NIA) first parliamentary event on 6th June 2022.
The event aimed to bring together people from across the insulation sector, celebrating the hard work the industry has done so far, and to look ahead at the priorities and opportunities.
Government and industry speakers covered an array of topics, such as the role of insultation in reaching net zero and helping to alleviate fuel poverty, and the subsequent challenges faced. A clear message was communicated throughout the day, highlighting the importance for collaboration within the industry to identify solutions to challenges; making this a time of unprecedented opportunity for the sector.
The day started at Broadway House in Westminster, where Derek Horrocks, Chairman of the NIA, opened the event by welcoming everyone. Fiona Chestnutt, Policy Lead for the NIA Secretariat, next spoke about the intention of the Secretariat to produce a policy paper to put to government in Autumn, to understand the role of insulation in the road to net zero and in lowering fuel bills to help mitigate the fuel poverty crisis.
Ffiona Hesketh, Deputy Director at the Department for Business and Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), spoke about current energy efficiency and decarbonisation funding available, reviewed the lessons learned from previous schemes, and took a look ahead to the next three years, noting the importance for a reliable supply chain.
Attendees also heard from Simon Ayers, CEO of Trustmark, who conveyed a positive message about the progress made by the industry so far in delivering quality products and services. He also presented the scale of opportunity ahead to focus on whole house retrofit to provide healthier, more efficient, and cheaper-to-heat homes.
The first part of the day was rounded off by David Pierpoint, CEO of the Retrofit Academy, who presented a roadmap to deliver his organisation's mission of 27 million professionally installed domestic retrofits by 2050, highlighting the importance that skills, training and qualifications will play.
Derek Horrocks, Bim Afolami MP, and Lord Callanan
Attendees then made their way to the Houses of Parliament's Pavilion Terrace, where everyone soaked in the atmosphere and views. Bim Afolami MP presented a message that government is committed to a net zero carbon future, and emphasised the importance for industry to engage and provide clear, realistic solutions to help government pave the way to meet its ambitious targets.
Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (BEIS), then spoke about the important role that insulation has to play in the transition to net zero, and in helping to lower energy bills; highlighting the need for a fabric-first approach.
‘We all know that we have a lot more still to do, but we are putting in the foundations and we have made some measurable progress so far with a clear path of where we need to get to. We know that with the support of organisations which are committed to excellence, we will be able to pass the finish line and reach net zero in 2050.’
