May 2026
Leading the Transition: Turning Decarbonisation Ambition into Action
The relaunch of the NISTA PFI Decarbonisation Toolkit represents a significant moment for operational projects across the UK. At a time when public sector leaders are under increasing pressure to demonstrate tangible progress against net zero commitments, the toolkit provides something that has often been missing: a credible, collaborative and contract aware route from policy to delivery.
Vercity is proud to have collaborated with NISTA throughout the development of the toolkit – from early working groups through to the live pilot that tested the guidance in practice on an operational project. The result is a framework that recognises the leadership challenge at the heart of decarbonisation: aligning multiple parties, interests and contractual positions around a shared, achievable plan.
A Leadership Challenge, Not Just a Technical One
Decarbonising operational assets is not simply an engineering or data exercise. It is a governance and leadership challenge. Contracts are long term, responsibilities are shared, and success depends on trust, transparency and collective decision making.
The NISTA toolkit explicitly acknowledges this reality. Rather than prescribing technical solutions, it sets out a leadership led framework that enables project parties to come together, agree priorities and make informed decisions within the constraints of the contract.
At its core are five clear steps that provide senior leaders with a structured way to move forward:
1. Data first – establishing a common understanding of what information exists and what it tells us
2. Know your contract – understanding where change is possible and how it can be enacted
3. Engage stakeholders – bringing all parties into the conversation early and transparently
4. Prioritise – focusing leadership attention on what will deliver the greatest impact
5. Make a plan – capturing actions in a clear, repeatable and accountable way
Just as importantly, the toolkit encourages leaders to embed decarbonisation into existing governance, rather than treating it as a parallel initiative. This reflects a clear message: decarbonisation should be part of how projects are run, not an additional burden.
Shaping the Guidance Through Industry Leadership
Vercity has worked alongside NISTA since 2022, contributing practical leadership insight from its role as Management Service Provider across complex portfolios. This perspective was instrumental in ensuring the guidance was not only ambitious, but deliverable.
Mark Cade, who has been part of the working group since its inception, said:
“We’ve been involved since the earliest stages, feeding into the original guidance published in 2023 and continuing as the focus evolved. The strength of the toolkit is that it reflects how projects actually operate and the realities senior leaders have to navigate.”
Ross Wigg, who joined the working group as the emphasis shifted towards lifecycle and variations, added:
“What this guidance does well is recognise that no single party can drive decarbonisation alone. Leadership in this space is about bringing people together, working within the contract and making progress in a way that stands up to scrutiny.”
Proving It Works: Leadership in Action at Peterborough Hospital
The real test of any guidance is whether it works in practice. That is why the pilot implementation at Peterborough Hospital was so important.
Working alongside NISTA, the Trust and NHS England, and in collaboration with project directors representing the shareholders of Peterborough (Progress Health) PLC—InfraRed Capital Partners and Equitix—Vercity supported the application of the toolkit across all five stages. Delivered over a six‑month pilot, the programme demonstrated how strong senior sponsorship, clear governance and shared ownership can drive meaningful progress.
Leadership at the point of delivery. Acting on behalf of Progress Health, the Vercity operational team translated the guidance into practical action—bridging the gap between theory and delivery and refining how the framework was applied in the day‑to‑day operation of a large, dynamic acute healthcare environment.
Kieran Connolly, Vercity and Progress Health Commercial Director commented:
“Starting with the data created clarity. By keeping the approach simple and accessible, it allowed leaders to focus on decisions rather than process.”
Zoe Glover, Vercity General Manager, Progress Health Managing Director added:
“The five step framework helped turn a complex challenge into a manageable cycle. It reinforced that Project Co’s leadership role is often about enabling, advising and coordinating – not funding – decarbonisation.”
Alex Thorne, Progress Health Director (InfraRed)added:
“The Vercity operational team, acting on behalf of Progress Health, worked collaboratively with public sector partners to interpret the guidance, reflect on what works well and identify areas for improvement, helping to shape future use by other projects.”
Chris Blundell, Progress Health Director (Equitix):
“Positive collaboration across all stakeholders was fundamental to the success of the Peterborough pilot project. By working openly and constructively, all parties were able to collectively interpret and work through emerging guidance, using the pilot as a practical learning opportunity”
Setting the Direction for the Sector
The NISTA PFI Decarbonisation Toolkit sends a clear signal to the market: decarbonisation is achievable when it is led collaboratively, governed properly and grounded in reality.
For senior leaders, the message is equally clear. Progress will come not from standalone initiatives, but from:
• Embedding decarbonisation into core governance
• Creating shared accountability across project parties
• Making informed, contract aware decisions
• Repeating and refining the approach year on year
With the toolkit now launched, Vercity is well positioned to support project sponsors, contracting authorities and investors as they move from guidance to implementation – helping leaders turn intent into measurable progress.
NISTA said:
“The positive engagement in the pilot by Vercity and all the PFI project partners at Peterborough Hospital showed how public and private stakeholders can come together with shared objectives and expertise to lead the development of a project decarbonisation plan.”
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