The National Self Build & Renovation Centre

31/08/2026

✨ 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 – 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐅𝐥𝐲𝐧𝐧 ✨

👋 Marketing Executive
📅 Joined the NSBRC in November 2025

💬 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐒𝐁𝐑𝐂?

"The people! Everyone at the NSBRC is so welcoming, supportive and genuinely excited to be part of the centre. I think that enthusiasm comes from being employee-owned, where everyone has a voice in shaping the future of the business. It creates a real sense of ownership and makes people feel heard, valued and excited about what's ahead."

🌟 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠?

"When I'm not at the NSBRC, you'll usually find me exploring the countryside with my two Poodles, enjoying a Pilates class, or in the kitchen cooking and baking. I even used to bake for a well-known farm shop in the Cotswolds!"

29/08/2026

📰 The Latest News from our Trade Village

Our latest Trade Village Newsletter brings together expert advice, new products, services and useful insights for self-builders and renovators - from free Fleming Homes webinars and the latest Passivhaus cost research, to summer subsidence advice, MVHR design, bat awareness training and tailored lighting solutions. With over 200 exhibiting partners at the NSBRC, there’s always something new to discover!

👉 Read the full newsletter here https://ow.ly/lZcR50ZF821

27/08/2026

We love hearing how the NSBRC has helped people turn their self-build dreams into reality - and this testimonial from Angela and Martin really captures what we’re all about 🏡

They first visited us in October 2023 and have returned 15 times, making the most of everything the Centre has to offer.

Most importantly, they came away with something we hope every visitor leaves with: the belief that self-build really is possible.

As first-time self-builders in their late 60s, Angela and Martin have shown exactly what can be achieved with the right information, guidance and support. We’re proud to have played a part in their journey so far - and especially grateful for their kind words about the whole NSBRC team.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥:

“We’ve been coming to the NSBRC now for a couple of years. During that time we feel we have benefitted from so much that is on offer here – presentations, 1–2–1 appointments, exhibitors’ product info & knowledge, training courses, online articles and expert help from the team (they’ve advised us on so many issues, from one-off questions relating to considerations for trench work for the installation of utilities, to help with the tendering process & preparing a contract), …. The list of practical support just goes on.

But above that, what has been totally invaluable to us, is that whoever we speak to at the Centre, instils in us a belief that we CAN actually do this (we’re first-timers at this, in our late 60s and not thrill-seekers by any stretch of the imagination!). Without exception, they really want people to succeed – and will go above and beyond to guide you through into making that happen. That goes right through from the welcome we receive at Reception, to the people with lengthy experience on a particular technical subject.

Thank you to EVERYONE at the NSBRC. From the first Autumn show that we attended in 2023 (when you lit the fire in our bellies - that a better home is achievable) … We genuinely don’t think we’d be doing this, if it weren’t for everything that makes up the NSBRC.

Oh, and right now …… It feels really exciting!”

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐚 & 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧 - 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭! 👷‍♀️

26/08/2026

🏡 Thinking about building your own home? Start by asking the right questions.

Self-building gives you the opportunity to create a home around your needs, lifestyle and priorities -but getting started can feel overwhelming.

Before you begin, there are some important decisions to understand - and our Self Build Workshop (4th & 5th September) will help you with this:

🔎 Research - What type of self-build is right for you, and what should you consider before committing to a project?

💷 Finance & costs - How will you fund your build, what costs should you allow for, and how can you keep your budget on track?

📍 Finding land - What makes a plot suitable for development, and what should you investigate before buying?

📐 Design & planning - How do you turn your ideas into a workable design, navigate planning and make decisions that support your long-term needs?

🏗️ Build systems & construction - From traditional construction to alternative systems, what are the options and what might work best for your project?

🌱 Energy efficiency - How can you make informed decisions about insulation, heating, renewable energy and future energy performance from the outset?

👷 Building your team - From designers and contractors to tradespeople, who do you need around you - and how do you choose the right professionals?

Across the two days, you can build your knowledge through practical guidance, educational zones and conversations with industry experts - including free 20-minute 1-2-1 appointments.

Whether you’re at the research stage, looking for land, working through planning or already preparing to build, the workshop is designed to help you understand the process and make more informed decisions.

📅 Friday 4th & Saturday 5th September
Join us for one or both days.

📍 NSBRC, Swindon | SN5 8UB

👉 Find out more and plan your visit: https://ow.ly/kzgk50ZFy2g

25/08/2026

🏡 Thinking about building your own home? Start your journey with the NSBRC!

Discover the ABCs of homebuilding at the Self Build Workshops on Friday 4th & Saturday 5th September.

📍 The National Self Build & Renovation Centre, Swindon - SN5 8UB

Whether you’re dreaming of a beautiful bespoke home, looking to build more sustainably, or simply want to get more for your budget, this expert-led workshop is packed with practical advice and inspiration to help bring your vision to life.

🔨 What can you expect?
• Expert advice on design, planning & project management
• Guidance on choosing the right building system
• Tips on airtightness, insulation and energy efficiency
• Advice on renewable energy, heating and smart technologies
• Insights into costs, timescales and financing
• Guidance on finding tradespeople and working with contractors
• Free 20-minute 1:2:1 appointments with industry experts
• Guided educational tours taking you through the self-build journey

From foundations and construction methods through to roofing, finishes and renewable technologies, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to make better decisions for your new home.

🌱 Build better. Build smarter. Build sustainably.

Whether you’re at the very beginning of your self-build journey or already refining your plans, come along and get the expert insight you need to move your project forward.

👉 Find out more and plan your visit: https://ow.ly/FVHI50ZFc3H

Discover the ABCs of homebuilding! Whether you're driven by sustainability or simply want to build better for less, our brand-new Self Build Workshops offer expert-led advice and inspiration to help you create a better, more sustainable home. These Workshops will bring together leading industry prof...

24/08/2026

Passive House design is about more than exceptional insulation and airtight construction - it's also about how your home performs every day.

The right controls can help you stay comfortable all year round by intelligently managing:
✔️ Heating
✔️ Lighting
✔️ Solar shading

With SMARTliving from Theben, your home can automatically respond to changing conditions - helping reduce overheating in summer, optimise heating room by room, and make everyday living simpler, not more complicated.

Built on the open KNX standard, SMARTliving is designed to grow with your home and work reliably without depending on a permanent cloud connection.

Whether you're planning a Passive House or a low-energy self build, intelligent control can help you get the very best from your home's design.

📐 Start with a FREE costed specification. Send us your project plans and we'll provide tailored recommendations and indicative costs based on the features that matter to you.

https://endusers.luxorliving.co.uk/luxorliving-smart-home-system

📍 You can also visit Theben on Stand 115 and in the Retrofit Zone at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre.

24/08/2026

✨ 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 – 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥 ✨

👋 Front of House Team
📅 Joined the NSBRC in January 2022

💬 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐒𝐁𝐑𝐂?

"I work in the coffee shop at weekends and love chatting with visitors about their self-build projects. Every project is different, and it's fascinating to hear everyone's ideas and plans. Alongside working at the NSBRC, I'm a full-time college student studying childcare and complete my placement at a local nursery."

🌟 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈?

"When I'm not at work or studying, I love getting lost in a good book – romance is my favourite genre! I also enjoy unwinding by watching crime dramas."

20/08/2026

Planning rules have changed - How does that affect your self-build or renovation plans? 🤔
The new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) could create new opportunities for self-builders, homeowners, landowners and small developers - particularly when it comes to small sites, infill development, brownfield land and self-build plots.

👉 We’ve teamed up with MDP - Mark Doodes Planning to find out what the 2026 NPPF could mean for your plans - and whether your land could have residential development potential.
https://www.nsbrc.co.uk/news/what-does-the-new-national-planning-policy-framework-nppf-mean-for-self-builders-and-residential-development/

17/08/2026

🏠 Renovating? Don’t let your heating be an afterthought.

With NSBRC Partner Nu-Heat Underfloor Heating & Renewables

If you’re investing in a heat pump or other renewable heating, getting the system design right from the start is crucial.

Here are 3 things to get right 👇

💷 1. Make the most of available grants
With government funding potentially offering up to £9,000 in savings, it pays to get the paperwork right. A good supplier should be able to help you navigate the process.

🌡️ 2. Match your heat source to your emitters
Heat pumps work at lower temperatures, so they need the right emitters to deliver comfortable, efficient heat.

That’s where underfloor heating comes in - giving heat pumps the large surface area they need, without filling every room with oversized radiators.

📐 3. Get the design right - room by room
This is where retrofit installations can go wrong.

Older homes often have different levels of insulation, glazing and heat loss from one room to the next. A generic design based on averages simply won’t account for that.

A bespoke room-by-room design helps make sure every space stays comfortable, even when temperatures outside drop.

And there’s one more thing worth considering...

🔧 What happens after installation?

Nu-Heat provides lifetime technical support and long-term performance guarantees, so homeowners and installers have expert help when they need it - not just on installation day.
Thinking about renovating?

📥 Upload your plans to Nu-Heat for expert advice
🎓 Or watch their free Retrofit UFH Masterclass to learn more.

👉 https://ow.ly/Po2S50Zypci

👉 https://ow.ly/jrkc50Zypck

17/08/2026

👋 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧

One of the things that makes us different is that we're employee-owned, meaning our team members share the same passion of the business!

Today we're shining a spotlight on Harvey, our 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓, who joined us in January 2008.

✨ 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒔:
“Meeting people, at the very beginning of their journey, and then a few years on to see the new houses that they have helped design and build.”

🎯 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝑺𝑩𝑹𝑪:
You can find Harvey “I love mini adventures with my family, riding my Vespa GTS and I’m on the board of our local non-league football club, Swindon Supermarine – and particularly enjoy watching my son who plays for their U16’s.”

We're proud to have passionate employee-owners like Harvey helping us create the best experience possible every day.

👉 Read their full profile here: https://www.nsbrc.co.uk/about-us/meet-the-team/