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HUG Hive| SHDF Hive | Learning community | Distribution network operators

Delivery newsletter | May 2025

Can you believe that we're more than a third of the way through 2025 already? The longer daylight hours and warmer weather have well and truly set in and we'll be heading towards British summer before we know it.

In our newsletter this month we share reminders on:

• the imminent DMS data submission deadline
• key links to resources available for grant recipients on the SHDF Hive and HUG Hive
• a webinar to help with queries related to the DNO
• and more

DMS data submission reminder

The DMS data submission deadline is always on the 10th working day of the month. Staying on top of these helps us track progress and keep everything running smoothly. 

The next deadline to submit your reports is tomorrow, Thursday 15 May.

• The data template for HUG2 has been updated for reports submitted from May 2025 onwards. The latest version of the data submission template can be found on the government website
• Data reporting guidance to support SHDF grant recipients can be found on the monthly reporting resources webpage of the SHDF Hive

Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) updates

Closure checklists and additional resources now live

We're pleased to announce that closure checklists are now available on the HUG Hive.

The checklists have been separated for those who completed works within the original delivery timeframe (by Monday 31 March) and those who completed delivery during the extenuating circumstances period (to Friday 25 April).

• closure checklist for grant recipients who completed delivery on or before 31 March 2025
• closure checklist for grant recipients who completed delivery with approved extenuating circumstances

Note: checklists are live webpages and are subject to change, additions and clarification over time. Any updates will be clearly labelled at the top of the webpage and shared with grant recipients via email.

To further support closure, the following pages have also been added to the HUG Hive:

• fraud countermeasures: outlines the key fraud-related actions required from grant recipients throughout the closure period 
• final report: shares guidance for the submission of your final report

Reminder: deadline for batch amendments

As detailed in the checklists, any batch amendments must be submitted via the ABS no later than Friday 23 May 2025.

Please note that this date is the final deadline for submitting amendments. We recommend submitting as soon as your resourcing and capacity allows.

Reminder: lessons learnt log and final session

Capturing lessons learnt is a vital part of project closure and an ongoing process throughout the project lifecycle.

It allows us to identify successes, address challenges and improve processes for future projects, as well as feed back to the department as they develop criteria and policy for future schemes.

Sharing this knowledge benefits other teams, ensuring a continuous cycle of learning and growth. 

Plus, remember that you are required to submit a final lessons learnt report as a part of your project closure.

Visit the lessons learnt webpage on the Hive for guidance, FAQs and a lessons learnt log template to support you with this activity as a part of your project closure.

Plus, join us for the final session in our three-part series as we reflect on the HUG2 journey, from early setup to final delivery.

Register to attend via the link below:

• 11am to 12.30pm, Thursday 15 May – session three: the end

Roundtable reminder

Our colleagues at the department would like to remind you on the revised date for the upcoming HUG2 roundtable.

The next roundtable will be held from online via Microsoft Teams from 11am to 12pm on Friday 16 May.

If you haven't received an invite or can't locate this in your calendar, please liaise with your SPOC.

Unsure if you've missed a communication?

The historic communications webpage on the HUG Hive details a timeline of communications sent to grant recipients by us (Salix) or the department.

If you're unable to locate or didn't receive a communication listed on the page, please contact your SPOC.

Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
(SHDF) Waves 2.1 and 2.2 updates

The SHDF Hive is now live

We are pleased to announce that the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Hive is now live!

The SHDF Hive is our online resource repository which exists as a centralised space where you can access valuable insights, helpful resources and find guidance on common questions and challenges.

The SHDF Hive currently hosts seven subpages relevant to specific areas of scheme delivery, pages include:

• lessons learnt
• fraud and error
• historic communications
• monthly reporting resources
• key documents
• awards and recognition
• grant recipient content and video gallery

Tomorrow: understanding DNO connections

If you’re struggling with DNO (distribution network operator) connections, you’re not alone.

The good news is that we have a free webinar to help.

• 2pm to 3pm
• Tomorrow, Thursday 15 May
• Online via Microsoft Teams

Join us (Salix) and guest experts from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) and UK Power Networks (UKPN) to explore how to overcome common DNO challenges, navigate connections efficiently and keep your projects on track.

• Register to attend today

For extra learning and support with distribution network operators, visit our website.

Reconciliation reminder

Reconciliation is an ongoing activity. Please continue to keep an eye on your inbox for further communications and requests for reconciliation samples evidence checks.

If you are still yet to submit a reconciliation document for FY24/25, please prioritise this as a matter of urgency. The department has its own financial reporting responsibilities that use reconciliation documents as its data source.

Emails related to reconciliation will be sent from hug_shdf@salixfinance.co.uk

Certification requirements for clean heat schemes consultation

The ‘Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certification requirements for clean heat schemes’ consultation was published on Wednesday 30 April 2025 and will be live until 11.59pm on Wednesday 11 June.

Only part 2 – certification of clean heat installations – is applicable to the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund scheme. Part 2 seeks views on the government’s proposal to:

• require the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) as the sole certification scheme for clean heat installations delivered through:
  • BUS
  • Energy Company Obligation 4
  • Warm Homes: Local Grant
  • Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund
• remove the option for multiple certification schemes to certify installations.

To note, the proposals only apply to clean heat measures which are currently required to be certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

While the proposals will apply to Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund they would have no immediate impact on the scheme. This is because the Secretary of State currently does not consider any other certification schemes to be equivalent to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme for the purposes of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund.

Please see further details or respond to the consultation via the Gov.UK website. 

If you have specific questions regarding certification requirements and Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, please reach out to cleanheatcertification@energysecurity.gov.uk and they will get back to you as soon as possible.

Unsure if you've missed a communication?

The historic communications webpage on the SHDF Hive details an overview of key communications sent to grant recipients by us (Salix) or the department.

If you're unable to locate or didn't receive a communication listed on the page, please contact your SPOC.

Updating your email preferences

We’ve sent you this newsletter because the records we (or the delivery partner) – suggest you are a contact for a Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund or Home Upgrade Grant project.

If this is correct, you don’t need to do anything else and can stop reading.

However, if you believe this email has been sent in error, or you are no longer involved in the delivery of project(s) funded through these schemes, please contact your SPOC.

Ask them to amend your details in the database and/or add the correct contact details.