HERO is opening its soft launch cohort to a limited number of new contractors, following the pilot phase which saw five active pilot contractors complete training and commence first retrofit works across 18 homes.
The soft launch stage builds on what the pilot has demonstrated: with the right structured support, local retrofit contractors can deliver deep-retrofit projects to SEAI One Stop Shop (OSS) standards without carrying the cost or complexity of independent OSS accreditation.
HERO – Holistic Energy Retrofit Empowerment for the development of One-Stop Shops – is an EU co-funded programme implemented by Retrofit Energy Ireland Limited (REIL), a SEAI-registered One Stop Shop. It gives Irish contractors a structured route into the deep-retrofit grant market through REIL’s OSS framework.
What contractors get
Under the HERO model, contractors remain responsible for project delivery and customer engagement, while REIL provides the structured operational support required to help them deliver OSS-compliant work.
The partnership covers ten service areas across three clusters: customer and commercial (marketing, sales, home energy assessments, credit union partnerships); delivery and compliance (quality assurance, grant compliance, IT systems); and programme discipline (participation expectations, non-circumvention, and suspension and re-qualification).
In practical terms, that means access to the deep-retrofit grant market via REIL’s SEAI-registered OSS, regional lead generation and marketing support, structured operational support across grant administration, QA, IT systems, mentoring, sales and home energy assessment guidance – and local credit union partnerships that give your customers homeowner finance pathways alongside SEAI grants.
A two-phase model — you’re joining early
HERO is currently in the soft launch stage. Contractor participation is governed by an interim MOU or participation agreement, with the final service contract framework to be developed as the programme progresses. Joining now means shaping how the model looks as it scales.
Is HERO right for your business?
The programme is designed for contractors with three foundations already in place:
- Delivery Foundation – you’ve built a reputation for finishing to standard.
- Organisational Capacity – your business runs on a rhythm, with clear roles and follow-through.
- Willingness to Change – you’re open to central systems, structured processes and the service-partnership model.
If all three describe your business, HERO is designed for you. If one or two need work, the programme is designed to build them.
Next steps
Interested contractors are invited to register their interest with the REIL HERO Programme Team. The soft launch process runs through four steps: register your interest, pre-onboarding conversation, soft launch participation agreed, and onboarding, training and go-live.
For a full walkthrough of the programme, view the HERO Business Pitch presentation below – an overview of what HERO is, what’s in it for contractors, and how the partnership works. Or email oss@reil.ie to start the conversation.