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.
