Meet the Retrofit Masters: Say Hello to Fuchsia

At Sero, our people are the heart of our mission to Retrofit the Right Way. Their passion and expertise drive the partnerships we forge and the quality of our delivery. It’s time you met the faces behind our success!

First up is one of our Retrofit Co-ordinators, Fuchsia. Fuchsia brings over a decade of experience in grant-funded retrofit schemes to our Retrofit Services team. Before joining Sero she worked for Bristol City Council, where she wore many hats, including contractor management, resident engagement, procurement and producing funding use report submissions.

Since joining Sero, Fuchsia has achieved both her DEA and Retrofit Assessor qualifications in 2023 and her Retrofit Co-ordinator qualification in 2024.  Her dedication and knowledge make her an invaluable asset to our team.  Let’s find out more about her…

I’m a retrofit geek when it comes to:

Retrofit Assessments – I firmly believe in good quality assessments, it’s all about the detail. A thorough assessment allows us to create the right Medium Term Improvement Plan (MTIP) for each home, giving everyone confidence that the correct strategy is being applied to achieve the best outcomes. A well-crafted MTIP also leads to great designs and installations.

How does your work impact our customers?

My main responsibility at Sero is to review retrofit assessments, and along with our software, I then create a full set of PAS compliant documents including the IOE and MTIP.

As well as ensuring every home has the right strategy, whilst I’m reviewing the assessments, I’ll often pick up condition issues and remedial works that need addressing before retrofit can start. We’ll make our customers aware, providing as much detail as possible, so that they can take action as quickly as possible.

This is not just so that retrofit works can commence on site, but so they can provide a great service to their residents (customers) too.

I feel this is particularly important especially when we come across damp and mould issues, that a resident might not have reported to their landlord, this can really implicate their health. We also know that to gain a residents trust and get through the door when it comes to installation, a landlord quickly acting on any remedial works can help with this.

What got you into Retrofit?

I started my career with a degree in English Literature and worked in various customer service roles. My passion for retrofit and sustainability ignited when I joined an environmental/sustainability consultancy in 2014. Later, I moved to Bristol City Council, where I helped deliver the Warm Homes Fund and ECO 3 Programmes. I’m very proud that we set and delivered to high standards and received exceptional customer feedback.

What’s your biggest learning about delivering retrofit since joining Sero?

Before joining Sero, I had plenty of on-the-ground delivery experience, but I felt I lacked the technical expertise due to the absence of formal training. I’m grateful for the training opportunities Sero has provided.

Completing the DEA, Assessor, and Retrofit Coordinator training, along with working with such an experienced team, who have been generous with their time, has given me both the knowledge and experience to deliver retrofit effectively.

When you share that your work helps save the planet with friends and family, what’s one common misconception people often have?

People often assume my job is frustrating because they think it’s filled with red tape, like PAS. However, I actually believe the legislation is beneficial as it drives quality and provides a solid framework.

What’s the one thing that inspires you to come to work every day?

Retrofit is hugely challenging for everyone involved. No two days are the same, and there’s always something new we haven’t encountered before. But we’re tackling these challenges, learning, and moving the industry forward, driving quality—and that feels great.

What would be your top tip for Assessors when it comes to retrofitting?

The devil is in the detail when it comes to condition reports, make sure you take clear photos of all defects and provide comprehensive additional notes.

To find out more about our Retrofit Services click here.