Co(l)laboratory Researcher Profiles
Project Title: Harnessing DIY retrofits for reduction in household emissions
What were you doing before starting this PhD?
Account Manager – Low Carbon/High Value Manufacturing sectors, providing heavily subsidised business support to help SMEs grow in Nottingham. Using the ‘information, diagnostic and brokerage’ model, I mentored and enabled business owners to access various packages of support e.g. grants and training, to help them grow their business and become more sustainable.
What motivated you to apply for this specific PhD project?
The project is a follow-on from my Account Management role in terms of the theme – low carbon. That role concentrated on supporting low carbon businesses. However, in this PhD research I aim to have a positive impact on broader themes such as residents’ health, and their socio-economic outcomes, by improving and reducing carbon emissions from their homes. My key motivation was: a) to have an impact on local people’s lives, and b) to work in partnership (consultation) with local people so they are included in the development and outputs of the research. I was also attracted to the fully-funded element of the offer!
What difference do you hope to make in Nottingham through this research?
I hope that this research will help put Nottingham on the map as an exemplar for scaling up DIY retrofitting at community level. I also hope that it will inform policymakers (who wish to meet Net Zero targets) to put in place incentives for residents to increase take-up of DIY energy efficiency measures.
What do you hope to be doing in 5 years’ time? (personally and/or professionally)
I’d like to make some good professional friends and increase my networks. Also, to use the research to open doors to a research /evidence-based /leadership role and share my findings to wider networks nationally and globally.