To identify the high-volume 'anchor' partners that provide the commercial stability for the wider plan. By highlighting existing pipelines (like social housing retrofits), the council proves that the 'base load' of work exists, making it safer for the supply chain to invest in the area.

• Guaranteed volume: anchor projects provide a 'foundational workload' that justifies the cost of setting up local depots or hiring new staff.

• Operational momentum: large, single-owner projects (like social housing blocks) allow for 'factory-style' delivery, which is more profitable than scattered individual installs.

• Reduced sales risk: instead of 100 individual negotiations, the supply chain deals with one major partner, significantly lowering their administrative and marketing costs. content

To make this a functional tool, the council should name specific partners and describe the 'hook' for each. In this section, identify non-domestic anchors as well (eg, schools, hospitals, or leisure centers) with high heat demand.

• The lead partner: identify the primary organisations (eg, a specific social housing provider) with a pre-existing retrofit pipeline. Which housing associations have the most stock in your target area and what are their five-year retrofit plans?

• The strategic alignment: explain how the anchor partner's current plans (eg, communal heating exploration) can underpin wider neighbourhood schemes.

• Call for collaboration: explicitly invite stakeholders to help 'structure' these large projects to ensure they are commercially viable from the start. What specific help do you need from the supply chain to make these anchors 'contract-ready'?

This box below includes a pre-written section that can be filled in with information relevant to your chosen area.