Domestic retrofit: understanding capabilities of micro-enterprise building practitioners

To deliver effective domestic retrofit at scale, it is essential to understand the current and required capabilities of building practitioners working in repair, maintenance improvement (RMI) existing buildings. Capability research construction sector has previously focused on large projects, but small, particularly, micro-firms that undertake RMI form 77% workers construction, are under-researched. This gap addressed by present study contextual opportunities deploy capabilities. The analysed data from interviews (n = 27) with micro-enterprise UK’s sector. Template analysis was conducted applying an established model behaviour change: Capability, Opportunity, Motivation—Behaviour (COM-B). Under three main themes were identified: knowledge, business management individual characteristics. Opportunities, state action, market customer demand, technology diffusion, networks management. Motivation pride work, good relationships, maintaining a viable satisfaction. Practitioners continually learning problem-solving, developing trust creating positive professional relationships. Working these capabilities, experiential on-site peer-to-peer training recommended scale up capability. For be deployed, policy must enable across multiple contexts operate within, including incentives supply chain network stimulating demand. Policy practice relevance Policy-driven programmes, such as those providing government funding for retrofit, work practitioner capability accelerate capacity allow delivery scale. Practitioner built over generations, used solve problems encountered minimise risk avoiding unfamiliar technologies practices. develop on-site, experientially, so practical experience practitioners. One aspect needs enhancement understanding integrated system. While about important, knowledge how they together required. industry capability, recognise role play delivering harness their problem-solving Opportunities needed through learning, knowledge-sharing between older younger practitioners, influential networks.