Skip to content 
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) was unveiled in March of the year 2023. As one of the flagship programmes in the overall one billion pounds schemes sanctioned by the UK government. So, the aim for this scheme is to increase home energy efficiency.
However, this ambitious initiative is intended to cover the cost of installment of insulation for households. So, this ensures warmer, energy efficient and cost saving homes for the families. Due to start in 2018 and end in 2026, this program aims at insulating the least energy-efficient homes. Especially those belonging to the vulnerable or low income individuals and groups.
So, in this blog, we will focus on numbers of the scheme up to October 2024. This will illustrate the achievements, growth, and constant development of the scheme.
Great British Insulation Scheme
Initially, with a £1 billion budget, GBIS was meant to satisfy the increasing demand for insulating homes across the UK. However, through the provisions of such funds, homes are made energy-efficient which in turn helps address the growing problem of escalating energy bills. Moreover, the government has continued to prioritize the provision of home insulation offerings.
At its core, the scheme’s main beneficiaries are vulnerable households. Particularly those within the low-income earners, who are offered reduced prices for insulation. Ultimately, the goal is to minimize energy demand within communities, enhance comfort, and mitigate fuel poverty.
Key Statistics: Progress from March 2023 to October 2024
So, here are the results Ofgem has collected by October 2024 and the additional opportunities of the program’s development. However, the Ofgem register data, used for these statistics, comes from the date of completed installations. With all figures remain tentative, they provide a good picture of the program’s effectiveness.
Total Measures Installed
However, the survey revealed that 46900 measures were fitted in UK homes of which 36900 were in appropriate households by October 2024. So, this figure necessarily covers a vast of indicated below insulation solutions offered and installed in homes upon the start of the scheme in March 2023.
Moreover, the installation activities were highest in October 2024 with 8,700 measures installed in 6,700 households. So, this was up from September 2024 by 21% in terms of installations and showed that the pace of adoption was getting higher.
So, the average monthly installation rates in August-October 2024 will be at 7,200 measures and are 65 percent higher compared to the levels achieved in May-July, 2024.
| Measure Delivery Period | Number of Measures Installed | Number of Households Upgraded |
|---|---|---|
| March – October 2024 | 46,200 | 36,900 |
| October 2024 | 8,700 | 6,700 |
| Average (Aug-Oct 2024) | 7,200 | – |
Check Eligibilty For ECO4 Scheme
Get Free Heating System Installed Today at your Property Under ECO4!
Delivery Breakdown by Eligibility Group
In a similar vein, the scheme has targeted different categories of users categorized by aspects of the households. There are two key groups targeted:
Low income, Less well off families, they are normally issued more benefits. Such as where local authorities may qualify more vulnerable households to flexible eligibility.
General eligibility group: This group comprises households, which may have higher incomes but will also be benefited from the improvement of the energy efficiency.
To the low-income eligibility group, by October 2024, 49% of the total measures delivered were for households, specifically 22,700 measures. So, 2,000 measures were installed under the Flexible Eligibility mechanism for eligible consumers.
So, out of the above total, 13,400 have been classified in the low income eligibility group representing about 36 percent of the upgraded households of which only 800 benefited from the Flexible Eligibility.
| Eligibility Group | Measures Installed | Households Upgraded |
|---|---|---|
| Low-income (Total) | 22,700 (49%) | 13,400 (36%) |
| Flexible Eligibility (Low-income) | 2,000 | 800 |
Innovation Measures
They capture new approaches to insulation that are more efficient than the standard ones known today. In simple terms, these innovative measures are specifically available to low-income households or other households in a social housing band D.
Furthermore, by October 2024, a total of 3,800 innovation measures had been implemented, thereby continuing the enhancement of housing energy efficiency.
Most Common Types of Measures Installed
So, among the different types of insulation measures, the most common installations were:
- Cavity Wall Insulation – 19,700 measures (43%)
- Loft Insulation – 12,800 measures (28%)
- Heating Controls – 9,300 measures (20%) – These are secondary measures available for low-income households.
However, the table below offers a detailed breakdown of the types of measures delivered under the scheme:
| Measure Type | Number of Measures Installed | Percentage of Total Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Cavity Wall Insulation | 19,700 | 43% |
| Loft Insulation | 12,800 | 28% |
| Heating Controls | 9,300 | 20% |
Delivery by Region
So, as has been envisioned above, the installation rate of the scheme’s equipment differs between regions. In fact, of the total measures installed, it is observed that the North West has the highest percentage, with 16% of the total observations.
Moreover, the third and fourth regions with the highest installations were the West Midlands at 14%, followed by Yorkshire and The Humber at 11%.
| Region | Percentage of Total Measures Installed |
|---|---|
| North West | 16% |
| West Midlands | 14% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 11% |
Upgrades by Region
Under the umbrella of the scheme until October 2024, over 36,900 households have been upgraded. Notably, the rates of upgrades, per 100,000 households, varied significantly across different regions:
In particular, Wales reported the highest change rate, with 166 per 100,000 households. Meanwhile, England came second with a rate of 135 per 100,000. On the other hand, Scotland recorded only 86 upgrades per 100,000 households.
However, within England, the four regions leading in upgrade rates were the North East, with 268 upgrades, followed by the West Midlands at 199, and Yorkshire and The Humber with 179 per 100,000 households.
| Region | Upgrades per 100,000 Households |
|---|---|
| Wales | 166 |
| England | 135 |
| Scotland | 86 |
| North East | 268 |
| West Midlands | 199 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 179 |
Local Authority Performance
So, there are sharp divisions at the local-authority level concerning the numbers of upgrades that have taken place. Moreover, at a national level, West Lindsey has the highest upgrade rate at 1,269 per 100,000 households, Salford 716/100000 and Stoke-on-Trent 582/100000.
| Local Authority Area | Upgrades per 100,000 Households |
|---|---|
| West Lindsey | 1,269 |
| Salford | 716 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 582 |
GBIS Costs and Financial Impact
GBIS delivery costs are distribution costs including installation and advertising while the other costs are computerization costs including IT policy and compliance, etc. The overall cost of the scheme up to September 2024 was £124.7 million of which £114.2 million relate to delivering the scheme and £10.5 million being the administrative costs.
Pure unit cost wise it has cost £26.03 per £1 of annual bill saving for each scheme which is slightly higher than the rate of the previous quarter.
| Cost Breakdown | Total (£ Million) |
|---|---|
| Total Delivery Costs | £114.2 |
| Total Administrative Costs | £10.5 |
| Total GBIS Scheme Cost | £124.7 |
| Average Cost per £ Savings | £26.03 per £ |
Conclusion
The first year of operations of the Great British Insulation Scheme is indicating good progress. Specifically, as the figures show, more homes have been upgraded, and more insulation measures have been fitted in the twelve months leading up to September 2009.
Moreover, the trend has been more pronounced in the last three to five months. In fact, this increased activity is a clear and positive indicator of the scheme’s effectiveness, as well as its expanding influence.
Moreover, the £1 billion initiative is currently helping eligible low-income households to receive the insulation they need to alleviate fuel poverty, cut energy bills and improve efficiency.
In the course of the scheme, even more households, as it has been mentioned above, will be covered by the measures provided under this scheme to promote the green energy efficient future for the UK.
