Developed by some of the UK’s leading retrofit practitioners, our Retrofit Designer course equips you with advanced skills and certification to excel in large-scale, high-quality domestic retrofit projects. This course is more than just an educational experience – it’s a direct connection to the expertise and insights of industry leaders who have shaped the field.
Lead the future of sustainable design in large-scale retrofit projects, advance your career and join the network of professionals driving the future.
Retrofit Academy offers the highest quality retrofit training courses, underpinned by brilliant customer support, at a market leading price
PAS 2035 Compliant Training – developed by leading Retrofit DesignersExpert support from experienced Skills CoachesSupport into practice — 12 months Professional Membership includedAccess to jobs and employersFlexible, self-paced study
Ideal for Chartered Architects, Architectural Technologists, Surveyors, and Construction Managers with at least 2 years of experience. Perfect for design professionals wanting to get involved in large-scale retrofit projects and programmes.
Retrofit Designers are qualified design professionals with the knowledge and skills to practice on large-scale, high-quality domestic retrofit projects and programmes in the UK. Retrofit Designers are qualified architects, surveyors, construction managers or architectural technologists.
Self-paced supported online learning with 80 hours of coursework and assessments. You’ll have up to 12 months to complete your Retrofit Designer course, allowing you to balance your studies with work and personal commitments.
Leading design practices and contractors have an urgent need for Retrofit Designers with the knowledge and skills to practice on large-scale, high-quality retrofit projects. There is the potential to increase earnings or build your business in a fast-growing sector.
Retrofit design is rarely taught in traditional degree courses. The Retrofit Designer course has been built by some of the UK’s leading practitioners to help bridge the retrofit knowledge and skills gaps that many designers therefore have.
Graduates receive 12 months of complimentary access to the Retrofit Academy Hub. Showcase your skills, connect with employers, and participate in over 40 Retrofit Academy Forums and Clubs annually, all designed to support your ongoing career growth.
The Retrofit Designer course was developed by The Retrofit Academy to respond to the acute shortage of designers available to practice on large-scale, high-quality retrofit programmes.
The Academy commissioned Loreana Padron as Editorial Director and Martin Callachan as Course Editor to oversee the development of the course. They worked with subject-matter experts to build 16 new modules, assessments and case studies.
As a Retrofit Designer, you’ll gain the skills to assess, plan, and execute retrofit projects across various building types, ensuring compliance and promoting sustainability.
This course covers everything from building physics and services to the intricacies of retrofitting heritage buildings and fire safety. By completion, you’ll position yourself as an industry leader who’s ready to tackle the challenges of creating greener, more energy-efficient homes.
The Retrofit Designer course includes 16 detailed modules, each designed and taught by leading experts in the field.
| Module | Module/Topic | Contributors |
| 1 | Introduction to the Retrofit Designer Course | Loreana Padron, Head of Sustainability, ECD Architects and Martin Callachan, Head of Sustainability, Hillcrest |
| 2 | The PAS 2035 Framework for Retrofit | Alan Pither, The Retrofit Academy |
| 3 | Standards, Regulations, Guidance and Tools for Retrofit Designers | Patrick Osborne, Head of Sustainability, ECE Architecture |
| 4 | Building Physics in Retrofit Design: Managing Energy Balance, Moisture Risks and Thermal Bridging |
Colin King, Director, UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings and Patrick Osborne, Head of Sustainability, ECE Architecture |
| 5 | Building Services for Designers | Bertie Dixon, Director and Xin Jin, Principal Engineer, Inside Outside Engineering |
| 6 | Principles and Design Strategies for Optimising Air Quality and Ventilation | Simon Jones, Founder, Air Quality Matters |
| 7 | Archetyping and Retrofit in Context for Traditional and Non-Traditional Construction Types | Carlotta Jansen, Associate, ECD Architects and Lilija Oblecova, Senior Architect, ECD Architects |
| 8 | Large Scale Retrofit: Working with Data, Residents and Occupied Properties | Claire Raftery, Associate Director, Matthew Wingrove, Senior Architect, Marion Gray, Senior Architect and Vimbai Gwata, Senior Architect, ECD Architects |
| 9 | Design Process & Strategy: Surveys, Energy Efficiency Measures and Case Studies | Lizzy Westmacott, Associate Director & Head of Sustainability, ECD Architects and Belen Alemany, Senior Sustainability Designer, Levitt Bernstein |
| 10 | Planning Permissions and Retrofits: The Fundamentals of the UK Planning System | Claire Hattam, Principal Planning Consultant, Cundall |
| 11 | Retrofit Design for Buildings of Heritage Significance | Jonathan Goode, Director, Le Lay Architects |
| 12 | Fire Safety in Retrofit: Minimising Fire Risks on Higher Risk Buildings | Andrew Morrison, Managing Director, Keegans |
| 13 | Avoiding Overheating: Risk Management Strategies | Susie Diamond, Founding Partner, Inkling |
| 14 | Design Strategies for Flood Resilience | Martin Callachan, Head of Sustainability, Hillcrest |
| 15 | Maintenance, Repairs and Handover of Retrofits | Martin Callachan, Head of Sustainability, Hillcrest |
| 16 | Reducing Embodied Carbon and the Circular Economy Approach to Retrofit Design | Deborah Mooney, Consultant in Partnerships, Zero Waste Scotland |
The Retrofit Designer course is delivered through The Retrofit Academy’s state-of-the-art online learning platform, providing a supported, flexible and interactive learning experience. You’ll also participate in expert-led workshops and collaborate with peers on real-world case studies, ensuring you’re fully prepared to apply your knowledge in practice.
As a successful graduate of the programme, you’ll enjoy access to a range of exclusive benefits, including:
Currently, there are no specific grants available through The Retrofit Academy, but candidates are encouraged to explore potential funding options that may be available through their employers or industry bodies.
Upon graduation, you will become recognised as a Retrofit Academy Professional Member at the appropriate level, often at Associate Level in your early years of practice. You can progress through Practitioner levels to ultimately apply for Retrofit Academy Fellowship.
Becoming a Certified Retrofit Designer also opens the door to a range of services designed to support your career and professional development provided by The Retrofit Academy. The first 12 months are FREE post graduation. The ongoing membership fee is £195 plus VAT per year.
After you have completed the certified retrofit designer course, you will gain access to The Retrofit Academy Hub providing:
To enrol in the Retrofit Designer course, candidates must meet one of the following criteria:
Portfolio of evidence comprising written and verbal assessment.
Upon successful completion, graduates will receive the Retrofit Designer Certification, a mark of excellence recognised across the industry. This certification confirms that you possess the necessary skills and knowledge to practice as a Retrofit Designer in compliance with PAS 2035 standards.
Associate Director & Head of Sustainability, ECD Architects
Head of Sustainability, Hillcrest
Martin is a qualified Building Surveyor specialising in retrofit under PAS2035. With over a decade of experience in the housing sector, Martin has held roles in tenancy management, property maintenance, and estates management, now focusing on sustainability and retrofit.
He has conducted thousands of Retrofit Assessments and currently works as a Retrofit Coordinator and Project Lead on large-scale, whole-house retrofit projects across the UK.
Martin combines practical expertise with a passion for educating professionals in the field of retrofit and sustainability.
Former Technical Author, PAS 2035
Peter brings over 30 years of experience as an energy and sustainability consultant in the building and housing industries. As Director of Rickaby Thompson Associates Ltd, he has contributed extensively to the field through technical publications, energy-efficient design guidance, and low-carbon retrofit consultancy.
In addition to his role as course author, Peter serves as a Director of the Centre of Refurbishment Excellence (CoRE) and as a Trustee of the National Energy Foundation, reinforcing his commitment to advancing best practices in energy efficiency and sustainable building.
Looking for more detail? Download the full prospectus to get a complete breakdown.
“The course was well structured and easy to follow, a very comprehensive follow-up and further learning for a current Retrofit Coordinator and a good introduction to retrofit for a current architect and designer”
Stephen Farrow – Ambue
Take a look at some of our other industry-leading courses below, or give us a call on: 0330 055 7629
Once qualified as a with the Retrofit Academy you will receive you first year of Professional membership for FREE*.
This membership is designed to support your journey as a retrofit professional, offering the tools, accreditation, and networking opportunities you need to transition smoothly into practice and advance your career.
*Only applicable to the following courses – Advisor, Assessor, Coordinator and Designer.
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