What does a retrofit coordinator actually do?
A retrofit coordinator runs the whole retrofit project, from first survey to final evaluation. PAS 2030:2023 (clause 3.22) defines the Retrofit Coordinator as a person qualified as a specialist retrofit project manager, taking overall responsibility for overseeing the assessment of dwellings, the identification, specification and evaluation of energy efficiency measures for installation at a given dwelling as a single project, and their subsequent monitoring and evaluation.
Two duties are personal to the coordinator and cannot be delegated. TrustMark's scheme requirements state that for any PAS 2035 project, whether or not it results in a measure being installed, the retrofit coordinator is personally responsible for the risk assessment and for creating the medium-term improvement plan: the document that sets out what the home needs over time, not just what is being funded today.
Day to day, the role covers:
- commissioning and checking the retrofit assessment of the dwelling
- carrying out the risk assessment and deciding the project's risk path
- producing or commissioning the medium-term improvement plan
- making sure the retrofit design addresses moisture, ventilation, thermal bridging and how measures interact
- coordinating the assessor, designer and installer, and resolving problems they raise
- lodging the required records in the TrustMark Data Warehouse
- arranging monitoring and evaluation after handover
The coordinator is also the person installers escalate to. PAS 2030:2023 requires an installer who finds missing or inadequate ventilation detail in a design to consult the retrofit coordinator rather than carry on. Our guide to PAS 2030 vs PAS 2035 explains how the two standards split the work.
Is a retrofit coordinator mandatory?
A retrofit coordinator is mandatory on domestic retrofit projects delivered under TrustMark, which in practice means all grant-funded work. The requirement comes from PAS 2035, and funding schemes make PAS 2035 compliance a condition of payment. The Warm Homes: Local Grant guidance (updated June 2026) requires all upgrades to follow PAS 2035:2023 and all measures to be lodged on the TrustMark Data Warehouse.
Privately funded work is different. There is no legal duty to appoint a retrofit coordinator for a homeowner paying for their own insulation, though the Building Regulations still apply in full. The role is a scheme and standard requirement, not a statutory one.
What qualification does a retrofit coordinator need?
A retrofit coordinator needs the Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management. TrustMark's roles and qualifications matrix lists "Holds Level 5 Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management" as required for the retrofit coordinator role across all three project risk paths, A, B and C. You must hold the diploma before joining an approved scheme provider.
One widely used version is the ABBE Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Assessment, listed on the Ofqual register as qualification 610/0170/3.
| Detail | ABBE Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Assessment |
|---|---|
| Awarding organisation | Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE) |
| Ofqual qualification number | 610/0170/3 |
| Level | 5 |
| Credits | 17 |
| Guided learning hours | 113 |
| Total qualification time | 170 hours |
| Operational start date | 22 November 2021 |
| Status | Available to learners |
Other awarding organisations offer equivalent Level 5 retrofit coordination diplomas. Check that the one you choose is on the Ofqual register and accepted by the scheme provider you intend to join, and confirm current requirements with TrustMark before you enrol. The published roles and qualifications matrix (v1.3, 9 February 2023) is written against PAS 2035:2019, while projects now run to PAS 2035:2023.
How do you become a registered retrofit coordinator?
Becoming a registered retrofit coordinator takes four steps: gain the experience, complete the Level 5 Diploma, register with a TrustMark-approved scheme provider, and keep your CPD up to date.
- Build built-environment experience. Training providers commonly ask for around 2 years of relevant experience in construction or the built environment, evidenced by a CV or an employer's letter. Entry requirements vary between providers, so check before applying.
- Complete the Level 5 Diploma. Expect coursework and a portfolio built around real or case-study projects rather than a written exam alone.
- Join a TrustMark-approved retrofit coordinator scheme. Registration is what lets you work on TrustMark projects. TrustMark's scheme requirements state that to become and remain registered, you must demonstrate the competence set out in Appendix 2 of those requirements, comply with the scheme's rules, and follow its code of conduct.
- Keep registration current. This means annual CPD and a personal development plan reviewed at renewal.
What CPD does a retrofit coordinator have to do?
A registered retrofit coordinator must complete at least 25 hours of evidence-based CPD each year, excluding any compulsory CPD the scheme itself enforces. TrustMark's scheme requirements also expect a structured CPD programme in your first year of membership and an annual personal development plan, reviewed with your scheme provider at renewal.
The scheme requirements list the kinds of topics that first-year CPD should cover:
- developing a medium-term improvement plan and improvement option evaluation
- managing moisture risks in retrofit
- managing overheating risks in retrofit
- decarbonising space heating and hot water
- retrofitting traditional buildings
- occupancy assessments
- achieving standards and targets
- PAS 2030 processes and products
CPD is audited. Accreditation schemes sample a minimum of 5% of members' CPD records each year to check the obligations have been met.
Retrofit coordinator vs assessor, designer and installer
The retrofit coordinator oversees; the other roles each do a defined part of the work. PAS 2030:2023 defines the Retrofit Assessor (clause 3.21) as a person qualified to carry out a retrofit assessment, and the Retrofit Designer (clause 3.24) as a person qualified to prepare a retrofit design in accordance with PAS 2035:2023.
| Role | What they do | Typical qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Retrofit coordinator | Project-manages the whole retrofit; owns the risk assessment and medium-term improvement plan | Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management |
| Retrofit assessor | Surveys and assesses the dwelling to inform the design | Accredited Domestic Energy Assessor plus additional retrofit training |
| Retrofit designer | Specifies the measures and produces the retrofit design | Measure-specific specialist qualification; chartered membership (MCIAT, ARB, MCIOB, MRICS or similar) on more complex projects |
| Retrofit installer | Physically installs the measures | Measure-specific NVQ; employer certified to PAS 2030:2023 |
One person can hold more than one role. TrustMark's matrix states that the same person can perform multiple roles if suitably qualified and any conflict of interest is managed. The scheme requirements add that where a coordinator fills multiple roles, or a conflict of interest exists, it must be declared to the client and resolved. Note also that for traditional construction and protected buildings, the matrix requires additional qualifications such as a Level 3 in Energy Efficiency and Retrofit of Traditional Buildings.
Is becoming a retrofit coordinator worth it?
Becoming a retrofit coordinator is worth considering if you want to move from site work into project management, because the role is mandatory on every TrustMark retrofit project and the funding pipeline continues past ECO4. The Warm Homes Plan commits £15 billion of public investment to 2030 and states it should support 180,000 additional jobs in energy efficiency and clean heating.
Be realistic about what the job is. It is a documentation-heavy, legally exposed project management role with personal responsibility for risk assessment, annual CPD obligations and audit. It suits people who are comfortable with records, standards and coordinating other professionals. If you prefer practical work, the installer route described in how to become a retrofit installer is a better fit.
Frequently asked questions
Can a retrofit installer also be the retrofit coordinator?
Yes, if they hold the Level 5 Diploma, are registered with an approved scheme, and the conflict of interest is declared to the client and resolved. TrustMark's scheme requirements explicitly cover coordinators fulfilling multiple roles on a project.
How long does the Level 5 retrofit coordination diploma take?
The ABBE version is listed on the Ofqual register at 113 guided learning hours and 170 hours total qualification time. How long that takes in calendar terms depends on the provider and whether you study part time alongside work.
Do I need to be a retrofit assessor first?
No. The assessor and coordinator are separate roles with separate qualifications. TrustMark's matrix does allow a qualified retrofit coordinator to act as a retrofit assessor on Path A projects, so the qualification can widen what you are allowed to do.
What are retrofit risk paths A, B and C?
They are PAS 2035's categories for project complexity and risk, which determine how much scrutiny a project gets. TrustMark's scheme requirements note that what is audited depends on the project's risk path, and that audits prioritise Path C first. The coordinator assesses and assigns the path.
Does a retrofit coordinator need insurance?
Scheme providers deal with this. TrustMark's scheme requirements say schemes must maintain a register of current and former members and their insurers, and keep records for the greater of 10 years or the length of any associated financial protection. Check the specific requirements with the scheme you join.
How Nexis Academy can help
Nexis Academy is a City & Guilds Approved Centre (T91185) in Manchester. We currently deliver practical internal wall insulation training aligned to PAS 2035 and PAS 2030, and more retrofit courses are in development. Contact our team to register your interest, or read about how to become a retrofit installer and condensation and damp behind internal wall insulation.
See also how to become a domestic energy assessor, one of the entry qualifications for the Level 5 retrofit coordination diploma.
See also how to become a retrofit assessor.
Sources
- BSI, PAS 2030:2023: clauses 3.21, 3.22, 3.24 and 3.25; clause 5.2.4.
- TrustMark, PAS 2035 Retrofit Coordinator Scheme Requirements, 2022 Edition v1.3: Assessing Suitability; Continuing Professional Development; Surveillance; CPD Surveillance; Appendix 2.
- TrustMark, PAS 2035:2019 Overview to Roles and Qualifications v1.3, 9 February 2023.
- Ofqual Register, ABBE Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Assessment, 610/0170/3.
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Warm Homes: Local Grant policy guidance, updated June 2026; Warm Homes Plan, updated 18 March 2026.