Energise Manchester
2025
A pioneering project using local networks and co-production to make energy efficiency advice accessible to all.
Project resources
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Energise videos
At Shortwork, we’re proud to have partnered on Energise Manchester, a two-year initiative led by Carbon Coop in collaboration with People Powered Retrofit, Snook and Manchester Care and Repair. Funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the project explores innovative ways to share energy efficiency advice with households across South Manchester, using community networks and peer-to-peer communication to reach those most in need.
Our Approach
As the evaluation and learning partner, Shortwork:
Designed the evaluation framework and toolkit, ensuring the project could capture insights effectively and track progress.
Encouraged reflection and learning from all partners, supporting iterative improvements throughout the project.
Integrated data to support behaviour change approaches, working closely with Chandni Patel (Snook) and Sandy Rushton (People Powered Retrofit) to inform targeted interventions.
Developed accessible tools for local organisations to capture insights that reflected the experiences of households in five target wards.
Key Findings
Hyperlocal outreach builds trust: Working with trusted local organisations helped reach households often excluded from standard retrofit guidance and provided tailored, accessible advice.
Public health approach enhances impact: Addressing home quality, safety, and health alongside energy efficiency improved engagement and made advice more relevant to residents’ daily lives.
Empowering tenants matters: Rights-based guidance and practical training gave households living in social, private rented and owner-occupied homes the confidence and tools to improve their living conditions.
Partnerships amplify results: Collaboration across organisations strengthened the local community ecosystem, enabling ongoing knowledge sharing and support beyond the project.
Outputs
Tailored energy advice delivered to households in five target wards.
Films produced by Carbon Coop showcasing lessons learned and practical guidance for others: YouTube playlist
Learning reports and blogs by Carbon Co-op Shortwork, Snook, and People Powered Retrofit.
Strengthened local partnerships to support ongoing community engagement and energy advice delivery.
Impacts and learnings
Energise Manchester demonstrates how community-led approaches can make energy efficiency advice more accessible and effective, particularly for households facing health challenges or financial pressures. By combining trust-building, householder empowerment, and cross-organisational collaboration, the project shows that meaningful engagement can drive behavioural change, improve living conditions, and strengthen local capacity for energy action.
“By collaborating closely with community-rooted organisations, the Energise Manchester team has tapped into local networks and knowledge, revealing the pressing need for energy efficiency advice among underserved populations. Addressing the challenges of the cost of living crisis, including maintaining warm and mould-free homes, is not only vital for personal well-being but also a critical public health issue.”
Energise evaluation report
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