hard to fi nd those people – and more than 60% believed it would still be diffi cult to recruit the right skills in fi ve years’ time. “Clear defi nitions of what net zero buildings are, encompassing the full


lifecycle of the building, will be central to setting the course for upskilling the sector,” the ESC reported. “Partnerships that educate clients about net zero buildings and how to commission them could play a key role in supporting increasing demand and investment in quality.” It also called for a framework of properly targeted activities, regulations,


standards, and processes to deliver net zero buildings. “Industry needs to play a central role in defi ning, driving and delivering


this, partnering with government where necessary to build a landscape which facilitates it,” the report added. “Trade organisations have a vital role in articulating the skills needs and tailoring these activities to specifi c sectors as well as government to help educate and drive the industry to deliver.” The ESC said action should focus on easily accessible training and on bringing


new, diverse talent into the sector. Promoting upskilling, the integration of new skills and mobility of skills within and beyond the sector could help refresh and reset the culture within the industry. BESA’s director of training and skills Helen Yeulet said the report showed the industry was “at a tipping point” for its skills capacity. “There is a clear consensus that the industry needs to drive cultural change with the government providing supportive incentives,” she added.


Readiness


“We want to work with our partners in Actuate UK and beyond to defi ne the industry’s skills needs and training solutions which will ensure the industry can get ready to deliver our net zero targets” she said. “Those businesses, organisations and individuals who are prepared to


diversify and who demonstrate a lifelong appetite for learning and development will be in highest demand.” Rob Hargraves, ESC’s retrofi t skills advisor, said that getting to net zero would


require a wholesale change in thinking on skills. “It will require us to take a holistic approach. Making sure the skills are there. Making sure the standards are enforced and upheld. Making sure there is an informed customer base,” he said. “As technologies evolve, we need to be ready to evolve our approach to training and the regulatory environment.” Curran used SFG20, the industry standard for building maintenance,


as an example of the kind of digital innovation needed to support building services fi rms and help to deliver net zero through rapidly improving building performance.


“SFG20 is a tool that will be playing a massive part in the way buildings


are managed and maintained. A tool we need to develop at pace to ensure it remains the Number One standard for maintenance in the built environment,” she said. “This kind of digital innovation will be key to delivering safer and more sustainable buildings – because it provides deep analysis of the way a building is operating. “With ‘real life’ information being mined at 48,000 data points per second, the


positive outcomes are endless. By the end of my [presidential] term, I hope to have created some pace, and cleared room for us to use all our amazing, pooled knowledge and skills in the most productive way taking advantage of all the new tools available to us.”


www.theBESA.com


ViewPoint T


How can policy intervention boost heat pump market?


by Phil Hurley, Managing Director of NIBE Energy Systems Ltd


he heating industry is at a crossroads with a period of exciting policy led growth for heat pumps on the horizon. However, with the recent progress report


from the Climate Change Committee urging imminent action and faster delivery to reach required heat pump targets, policy framework will still need adapting to increase uptake.


The Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM) aims to incentivise 90,000 heat pump installations in year 2 alone, with the possibility of 400,000 by 2028. Whilst these targets are ambitious, the industry has potential for scalability. The UK is also no stranger to fast paced change, with the introduction of the


condensing boiler a great example of this. Despite industry reluctance, policy provided a clear, much needed kickstart for the industry to embrace a new, more effi cient technology. The industry ramped up installations, adapting with only two years notice – a similar time frame for the CHMM announcement, demonstrating that change within this timeframe is possible. The CHMM also has huge potential to drive growth of the industry, but other policies must work in tandem with the scheme to maximise progress. The main focus must be on incentivising consumer demand and increasing installer numbers. Confi rmed phase out dates for fossil fuel boilers, alongside greater fi nancial support through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) can support this. Year one of the BUS had a shaky start with over 56% of available funding


unused. For the remainder of the scheme, extended to 2028, the grant can be increased to incentivise greater uptake, particularly for ground source heat pumps, which have considerably lower uptake than under the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive. The role of other policy schemes, such as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and Homes Upgrade Grant (HUG) can also be reviewed to further drive progress towards the 600,000 target. Installers are at the heart of supporting the growing industry, and there are


currently large skill gaps leading to poor installs and lacklustre performance. Many often comment on minimal training capacity, how available training is not currently up to standard, and the bureaucracy with becoming MCS accredited. The route to becoming an MCS accredited installer will be addressed through the MCS Scheme Redevelopment Consultation, and this will be crucial to driving installer uptake. Additionally, for those looking for an easier route to MCS today, the NIBE Pro partnership scheme streamlines the route to MCS accreditation, removing bureaucracy, whilst rewarding installers. Whilst high-quality, tailored installations are key to an effi cient heat pump


system, running costs can be artifi cially infl ated due to high electricity costs, reducing the incentive to install a system. More detail on plans to rebalance energy levies this year will be crucial for lowering heat pump costs and driving consumer demand. Rebalancing energy levies can lower the cost of running an air source heat pump relative to a gas boiler by £250 lower per annum. Industry and policymakers still have work to do. We are less than 5 years


away from the 2028 target of 600,000 annual heat pump installations, and UK sales in 2022 were just over 10% of this. So, despite there being potential boom on the horizon for the industry from the CHMM, installers and consumers must be supported through policy to deliver the supply chain and demand required to reach decarbonisation targets.


www.nibe.eu/en-gb


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