On 7 May 2025, Business in the Community (BITC) convened the Energy Co-Creation Workshop at the University of Bradford. The session brought together a wide array of participants – from council officials and community groups to business leaders and academics – united by a shared ambition: to design equitable, sustainable energy solutions that meet the needs of Bradford’s community organisations. Attendees included representatives from Solenis, Henry Boot, the CommunityEnergy team at Northern Powergrid, Bradford Council, Groundwork Yorkshire, the University of Bradford, and community stakeholders such as Bradford Trident Limited and CNET.
This event offered more than dialogue. It marked the beginning of a practical roadmap for enabling community-led climate action, anchored in local expertise, collective ownership, and cross-sector collaboration.
Reflecting on the outcomes of the session, Dr. Pedi Obani, the Principal Investigator for Gender Inclusive Climate Change Governance (GenCGov) remarked: “This session was not a presentation of pre-determined solutions. Rather, it was a space for co-creation, where all voices from the community were valued and integrated. Together, we explored both systemic challenges and grassroots solutions for energy sustainability in Bradford. I found the experience timely and instructive. It powerfully reinforced the GenCGov mission to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice – particularly in developing a wholistic understanding of the energy challenge and co-creating climate governance frameworks that are more inclusive and sustainable.”
Understanding the Bradford Community Energy Challenge
Like many urban centres globally, Bradford faces a convergence of energy-related challenges. Rising energy costs, outdated infrastructure, and limited access to trusted advice place considerable pressure on community organisations that deliver vital social services.
In response, the Energy Projects Co-Creation Group aims to implement a comprehensive, phased strategy centred on:
- A “one stop shop” for up-to-date, impartial energy advice tailored to the community sector
- The retrofitting of community buildings to reduce energy consumption, lower emissions, and improve affordability
- Capacity building through green skills education and behavioural change initiatives
- Establishing exemplar sites that demonstrate the viability of community-led energy transition efforts
This approach is not experimental; it is prototypical. It offers a replicable model for how cities can engage communities as active agents in achieving net zero objectives.
Key Insights from the Co-Creation Process
Several themes emerged with strong relevance to inclusive climate governance:
1. Accessible Communication is Foundational
To be effective, energy advice must be more than accurate – it must be understandable, inclusive, and culturally attuned. This includes providing materials in diverse formats and languages, avoiding technical jargon, and engaging through trusted local channels. Such considerations are critical in ensuring that no one, especially marginalised groups, is excluded from participation in the energy transition.
2. Demonstrable Value Drives Engagement
Stakeholders, particularly community-based organisations, are more likely to engage in energy interventions when the benefits are clear, tangible, and relevant to their day-to-day operations. Events and initiatives must communicate a compelling value proposition and follow through with implementation support.
3. The Private Sector Can Be a Strategic Ally
Business actors present at the event not only expressed interest but committed to contributing through funding, volunteerism, and pro bono expertise. Their involvement underscores the importance of building cross-sectoral partnerships that align profit motives with public value.
Exemplar Sites: Operationalising Learning and Trust
One of the most compelling outcomes of the session was the plan to establish exemplar community buildings. This consists ofspaces that have undergone successful retrofits and will serve as demonstration and peer-learning hubs for other organisations. These sites will function as:
- Proof points for what is technically and financially achievable
- Learning environments for community-to-community knowledge exchange
- Catalysts for behavioural change and replication across the district
In the context of GenCGov’s work across multiple countries, the concept of exemplar sites aligns closely with our ongoing research on climate adaptation infrastructure and gender-inclusive knowledge systems. Grounded, demonstrative models help shift policy discussions from the abstract to the actionable.
Reflections on Gender and Inclusion
Although this initiative was not explicitly framed through a gender lens, its outcomes and design are directly relevant to the principles of gender-responsive climate governance. The emphasis on community leadership, capacity development, and information accessibility provides fertile ground for advancing the gender equality outcomes.
At GenCGov, we consistently advocate that women and marginalised groups must be active participants in climate-related decision-making. This includes the design and implementation of energy policies and programmes. The community energy co-creation model offers a promising framework for embedding those principles through:
- Participatory design processes
- Decentralised knowledge sharing
- Implementation support to strengthen ownership and agency
Looking Ahead: Implications for Global Practice
The outcomes of the co-creation workshop offer valuable lessons for international efforts to localise the Sustainable Development Goals and a reminder that transformative change often begins with inclusive dialogue, translated into actionable plans and backed by enduring partnerships. We will continue to draw upon these insights as we expand GenCGov’s research and policy work across the UK and sub-Saharan Africa.
About GenCGov
Gender Inclusive Climate Change Governance (GenCGov) is a research initiative supported by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF). Led by Dr. Pedi Obani, GenCGov seeks to bridge the gap between policy, research, and community action by promoting gender-responsive climate governance. The initiative works across the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, with a focus on legal reform, advocacy, and capacity development that foregrounds the needs and contributions of women and marginalised communities to the energy transition process.
