Heat transition: public engagement strategic framework

Chapter 1: Introduction

This Strategy sets out a Strategic Framework to guide how we will work with others to deliver a people-centred programme of public awareness raising, education and participation around clean heat and energy efficiency. Its purpose is to inform our activity as well as help shape and guide the activity of key players in the heat in buildings transition.

It will act as a blueprint for how we engage with homeowners, tenants and landlords over the next decade. It will also shape our engagement with the public sector, registered social landlords and private and third sector organisations. Whilst these groups have varying needs, they all share interests and will be asking the same questions:

• What is it I am being asked to do?
• Why do I need to do this?
• When do I need to do this by?
• What will it mean for me in practice?
• How will I be supported?
• What steps do I need to take, and how?

Structure

The Framework is structured around three delivery pillars:

• Understand: people and organisations are aware of and understand the changes we need to make and know how to access support.
• Participate: people and organisations can actively participate in shaping Scottish Government policy, legislation and delivery schemes and have opportunities to learn from each other.
• Act: people and organisations take action to install clean heating systems and upgrade energy efficiency, which are becoming normalised across society.

These delivery pillars and associated actions will be guided by the following principles:

• Partnership Led: we will work collaboratively with partners and trusted messengers to design, develop and implement actions to strengthen public engagement.
• People Centred: we will design and deliver engagement activities that take account, and are tailored to, the needs of our diverse population.
• Place Based: we will ensure messaging and engagement activities are relevant to local contexts and circumstances as informed by Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies.

Strategic Public Engagement Delivery Partnership

We will establish a new Strategic Public Engagement Delivery Partnership to provide leadership and coordination across public engagement for heat and energy efficiency to ensure consistent messaging. This new partnership will be designed with stakeholders and partners and will be set up during 2024.

Our Approach

Whilst guiding our longer-term approach, this strategy also commits to a range of shorter-term actions to help build a stronger foundation of public awareness. These will be delivered incrementally over the lifetime of this strategy and will include:

• Continued and expanded marketing and communications activity.
• Exploring options for extending the reach of platforms like the Greener Homes Network so that people can share experiences and learn from each other.
• Streamlining customer journeys and ensuring people and organisations know where and how to access advice and support available.

Monitoring and Evaluation

We will monitor and evaluate progress toward our strategic objectives, making use of existing primary data. The monitoring and evaluation of public engagement activity will be closely aligned with the wider Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Heat in Buildings^[1]. We will publish baseline statistics in the first year following publication and then re-evaluate these statistics in year three. Delivery activities outlined will run to 2026. At the end of this period, we will undertake a review and evaluate the impact of this strategic framework.

Summary of Actions

Strategic

• We will establish a new Strategic Public Engagement Delivery Partnership to provide leadership and coordination across public engagement for heat and energy efficiency. This new partnership will be designed with stakeholders and partners and will be set up during 2024.
• We will work collaboratively with key partners and trusted messengers to design, develop and implement actions to strengthen and expand public engagement.
• We will design and deliver engagement activities that consider, and are tailored to, the needs of different audiences and will enable people to share and learn from each other’s experiences.
• We will ensure our messaging and engagement activities are relevant to local contexts and circumstances – as informed by Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and Delivery Plans.

Delivery Pillars

Understand

• Inform the public on what changes are required, why they are important, and the potential benefits.
• Increase public awareness of progress being made in Scotland towards our clean heat targets.
• Help the public understand what they need to do as part of the heat transition.
• Ensure people are familiar with the technological options available and the choices they can make.
• Promote access to appropriate resources, impartial advice and support to help the public transition their properties to clean heating and improved energy efficiency.

Participate

• Support opportunities for the public to inform and help shape policy and delivery decision making as the heat transition progresses.
• Encourage and support ongoing public dialogue on key issues of concern relating to the heat transition.
• Increase transparency in the operation of the Heat in Buildings programme.

Act

• Improve the existing consumer journey to support an increase in the rate of transition to clean heat and improved energy efficiency standards.