At the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC), our mission is clear: to empower consumers and enhance the standards of the UK’s home improvement sector. One of our proudest initiatives achieving exactly this is our series of consumer-friendly guides—known as Doorstep Digests.
What are Doorstep Digests?
Doorstep Digests are concise, easy-to-understand documents crafted specifically to demystify various aspects of home improvements and repairs for consumers. Originating from the collaborative work within NHIC’s dedicated Working Groups—Carbon, Competence, and Consumer—these digests aim to eliminate confusion, tackle misinformation, and equip homeowners with accurate, actionable knowledge.
Created with consumers firmly in mind, Doorstep Digests cover a broad range of essential topics, from energy efficiency and insulation to hiring reputable tradespeople and understanding building regulations.
Why are Doorstep Digests important?
Home improvement can be daunting for consumers—whether they’re navigating complex regulations, seeking trustworthy tradespeople, or understanding sustainability and energy-saving solutions. The market is also unfortunately prone to misinformation and confusion, leaving consumers vulnerable.
Doorstep Digests address this challenge directly, offering impartial, expert-backed advice. They are designed to demystify complex topics, reduce confusion, and help consumers feel confident making informed decisions, ultimately raising the standards and expectations within the sector.
Real impact on real people
Since their launch, we’ve created 14 Doorstep Digests, each specifically crafted to tackle real consumer challenges. For example, our guide on Consumer Protection and Building Trust in Home Improvement Projects has empowered homeowners across the UK to confidently make their homes warmer and more environmentally sustainable, significantly reducing both their energy bills and carbon footprint.
One homeowner shared their experience:
“I found the Doorstep Digest on insulation incredibly useful. It simplified what seemed like overwhelming choices and helped me to make decisions with confidence.”
Stories like these highlight the genuine difference these guides can make—bringing clarity and confidence directly to consumers’ doorsteps.
Popular topics covered
Some of our most popular Doorstep Digests include:
- Choosing Competent Tradespeople: How to find trustworthy, certified professionals.
- Energy Efficiency Explained: Simple ways to reduce energy use and bills.
- Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Home Improvement: Protecting consumers from costly mistakes.
- Understanding Your Rights: Ensuring homeowners are well-informed about their rights during home improvements.
Each guide represents NHIC’s core values of competence, compliance, and consumer protection, directly reflecting our commitment to transparency and quality.
Looking ahead: more support for consumers
Our Doorstep Digests are continually evolving. As we approach our 50th anniversary with the ‘Home is Where Our Heart Is’ campaign, we’re committed to creating more resources that meet emerging consumer needs and address new market trends. Future guides are already in development, with topics planned around renewable energy solutions, sustainability innovations, and further consumer protections.
We also invite our readers to suggest topics they’d find helpful—after all, our work is guided by consumer experience and feedback.
Get involved
Explore our existing collection of Doorstep Digests on the NHIC website, stay informed by signing up for our newsletter, or engage with us on social media to share your experiences and suggest future topics.
Together, we can ensure every homeowner has the confidence, knowledge, and support they need for successful home improvements.
After all, the home truly is where our heart is.