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On 25 August, HERO contractors and three pilot Credit Unions gathered in Tullamore for a first alignment session led by REIL and CUDA — building the local partnerships that connect homeowners to community finance for their retrofit journey.

HERO is opening its soft launch cohort to Irish retrofit contractors, following a pilot that saw five contractors complete training and begin first retrofits through REIL’s SEAI-registered One Stop Shop. Interested contractors can register with the HERO Programme Team.

HERO-OSS contractors are being equipped to direct homeowners towards trusted, community-based retrofit financing through their local Credit Unions. Communication guidelines for contractors were finalised at the end of 2025, ensuring clear and unbiased information for homeowners exploring their options.

HERO-OSS has launched its contractor training programme, structured around seven core OSS knowledge areas – IT systems, home energy assessments, project management, financing, grant administration, quality assurance, and online marketing.

HERO-OSS has welcomed its first five pilot contractors, who will spend the next phase testing the full HERO partner retrofit journey. Selected against rigorous criteria for capacity and SEAI alignment, these contractors will help shape the materials and processes used in the soft launch.

Ireland has set itself an ambitious target: retrofit 500,000 homes to a B2 energy rating by 2030. To meet that mandate, the country needs to deliver an average of 75,000 B2-equivalent upgrades every year from 2026 onwards. In 2023, just 1,336 deep retrofits were completed nationally.