Plug me in Appointed to £660 Million Retrofit and Decarbonisation Framework

Q: Can you explain what the framework is and what it means for Plug me in?

Chris: The Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9) Framework is a major national initiative led by LHC Procurement Group, running until February 2029. It provides public sector clients and registered social landlords with access to vetted local suppliers like Plug me in - experts in retrofitting and future-proofing social housing and public sector buildings across the UK.

 

Being part of this framework puts us at the heart of the UK’s drive to decarbonise social housing helping housing providers meet their climate targets while making homes warmer, more efficient and cheaper to run.

 

Q: Why is this framework so important?

Jacqueline: The scale of the challenge is huge. There are nearly 4 million social housing units and 4.6 million private rented homes in the UK. Local authorities, combined authorities and housing providers are all under increasing pressure to upgrade their properties with renewable energy solutions.

 

This framework is designed to help them do exactly that - covering every aspect of energy efficiency. It supports the UK’s ambitious carbon reduction targets and tackles fuel poverty by improving building performance, lowering running costs and reducing emissions.

 

Q: What kind of services will Plug me in offer under the framework?

Jacqueline: We’ll be delivering decarbonisation and fabrication solutions, this extends to heat pumps, solar PV and battery storage, designed to meet the whole house retrofit requirements unique to each property. We can also unlock funding routes and maximise grant opportunities, making low-carbon upgrades more accessible and affordable.

 

Q: What sets Plug me in apart from other contractors on the framework?

Jacqueline: We are not only retrofit professionals, but we are also fully committed to making a positive impact on the world around us. We are part of Calisen, who have led the way in energy infrastructure through the roll out of smart meters across the UK. Through our innovative approaches, thought leadership programs, policy interventions and lobbying works, we aim to drive change and promote best practice within the industry.

 

Chris: Also, our experience, expertise, and end-to-end support offering. We bring two decades of experience delivering renewable energy projects across the UK. Our engineers are fully qualified and trained in-house at our BPEC accredited training academy, so clients can expect a highly skilled team on every project.

 

We are fully committed to making the transition to renewable energy simple and stress-free - from design and installation through to maintenance and ongoing support.

 

Q: How does this framework support the UK’s wider climate goals?

Chris: It’s a vital piece of the puzzle, helping local authorities and housing associations tackle emissions from homes head-on. The framework will drive upgrades to social housing and 1.9 million non-domestic public buildings - cutting carbon while improving quality of life for millions of people. The framework has been perfectly positioned to assist with the delivery of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) and Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) allocations which have now been announced and will run from 2025 – 2028.

 

Q: What’s next for Plug me in as part of the N9 framework?

Jacqueline: We attended the Framework Launch Retrofit and Decarbonisation: An LHC Accredited Event in London this month - it was great to connect with industry leaders and sector peers. The collective vision and knowledge shared at the event was inspiring. We are looking forward to working with our LHC Business Development Manager to identify opportunities and start working with clients to support their journey to successful, scalable delivery.

 

Following the event we met with Graham Collie, LHC Group Head of Supplier Relations, to discuss what lies ahead.

 

Our focus now is on supporting housing providers, councils and landlords through this transition. We firmly believe in a warm, cost-efficient, low-carbon future for all - and through this framework, we’re helping turn that vision into reality.

 

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Gemma French, Head of Housing and Public Sector commented, “At Plug me in, we are thrilled to be part of the LHC N9 Framework, a collaboration that aligns perfectly with our mission to drive sustainable, energy-efficient solutions in the housing sector. This partnership represents an incredible opportunity to work alongside key stakeholders in delivering high-quality housing, reducing energy costs for residents, and making a real, measurable impact on the journey to net zero. We look forward to playing our part in creating smarter, greener, and more affordable homes for communities across the UK.”