Retrofit matchmaking recap
On the 17th of September, we hosted our first Retrofit Matchmaking event at our offices in Bridge 5 Mill, designed to connect householders and contractors through a ‘speed-dating’. The goal was to help householders move forward with their retrofit, giving them a chance to explore ideas and decisions about their journey in an informal setting - over some drinks and snacks!
Who was in the room?
We were excited to welcome 10 householders to the matchmaking event, all with unique retrofit plans and questions to ask. In terms of the professionals, we had:
3 builders
3 architects
1 energy consultant
1 heat pump installer
The room was buzzing with chatter all evening.
The why of the event…
Finding trusted contractors to work on your home is one of the most challenging aspects of retrofit, and we recognise the importance of face to face conversation. We wanted this event to go beyond a typical meet-and-greet event with exhibition stands and provide an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with retrofit experts.
We also wanted to bring together contractors and installers themselves. The supply chain and construction industry is highly fragmented and it’s not often that sole traders and SMEs are able to come together with other like minded professionals - we wanted to facilitate that meeting!
How it worked…
At the start of the event, householders and professionals were encouraged to grab a drink and snack and take a look at the profiles of our experts. Following a quick introduction by us at People Powered Retrofit ( kept short and sweet by our team for maximum chatting time!), the attendees got talking in their first slot.
There were a range of discussions going on from the best and least disruptive ways to insulate your floor to where to site a heat pump. Our team kept everyone on time and it was great to see so much enthusiasm and excitement from the attendees.
What’s next?
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and we’re so grateful to everyone who turned up. Householders went away with clearer ideas of how to realise their retrofit and a few more contact details of those who can help!
Of course, the one thing everyone wanted was a greater range of and more contractors, and we’re working on it! For future events, we plan to bring in additional specialists like electricians, plumbers, and ventilation experts to cover even more aspects of retrofit work.
Both householders and contractors expressed interest in attending the next event, and we’ve had plenty of questions from others unable to make this event. We’re excited to grow this initiative and continue helping people connect with the right professionals to make their retrofit projects a reality.