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Training
Hit the road to heat pumps W
Griff Thomas from GTEC, part of the United Living Group, looks at the latest facts and fi gures surrounding heat pump uptake and explains why the quieter summer months are the ideal time to train
e have a new political party in power for the fi rst time in 14 years and the burning question is - what does this mean for our
industry? For installers? For heat pumps? For net zero? Labour have made some bold pledges that demonstrate their commitment to decarbonisation and I look forward to seeing more detailed plans in the coming weeks. However, with a strong focus on energy
effi ciency, including upgrading rental properties to band C, investing £6.6 billion in home upgrades and delivering grants and low interest loans for domestic renewables, it is clear that Labour’s plans will require a signifi cant expansion of the skilled workforce.
Record-breaking growth
A recent survey of heat pump installers by Nesta revealed that lack of skilled workers is a signifi cant barrier to installation, with 30% citing it as the top issue. Despite a 166% increase in qualifi ed installers, from less than 3,000 in 2022 to nearly 11,000 in 2023, the industry still falls short of the 33,700 installers needed by 2028 to meet heat pump installation targets. By contrast, heat pumps installations are set
for a record-breaking year, according to the latest data from MCS. In May 2024, 4,849 air source heat pumps (ASHPs) were installed, making it the second-highest month on record. This increase is not just a one-off ; the fi rst fi ve months of 2024 have already seen a 54% increase compared to the same
Left: Griff Thomas from GTEC, part of the United Living Group
level the playing field for installers, enabling smaller firms and sole traders to compete more effectively with larger companies and reducing installation costs.
Summer is the perfect time to train
period in 2023, with 21,614 heat pumps installed. We are well on the way to beating last year’s total of 36,799 but with the slowest installation rate in Europe, there’s a long way to go.
Heat pumps – the future?
It’s estimated that 1 in 10 households in the UK will need to install a heat pump in the next five years to meet legally binding carbon reductions targets*. What we need now is a consistent, long-term decarbonisation plan, independent of political shifts, to cement heat pumps as the primary heat source for UK homes. I was delighted to see so much innovation in
low carbon heating at a recent trade show, with manufacturers, training providers, and startups tackling common barriers to heat pump adoption. Digital tools like Heatly are set to revolutionise heat pump installation by enhancing the speed and accuracy of key tasks, such as heat loss calculations. Access to this advanced tech will
The summer months are the ideal time to train in preparation for heating season. With Labour planning to expand support and increase access to domestic renewables, we can expect to see growing demand for heat pumps this winter and beyond. Upskilling as a heat pump engineer is relatively quick for experienced heating engineers and will ensure you are skilled and ready to meet higher demand for installations when it arrives. Heating installers require a heat pump
qualification on top of existing gas or heating qualifications and experience. The first step is a three-day LCL Awards ASHP qualification, recognised by MCS, that delivers the knowledge, skills and competency required to design, specify, install, commission and maintain domestic and small commercial ASHPs. As you gain experience, you can upskill again to ground source heat pumps, if required. Your training provider should also deliver quality practical training to prepare you for the workplace. During your training, you can expect to work on purpose built live ASHP rigs, as well as covering health & safety, industry regulations and best-practice. We’ve recently expanded our training locations to 19 across the UK so wherever you are, you should find a course to suit your needs.
Don’t be scared of change
Transitioning from gas to renewables means new opportunities for heating installers. While there is a certain amount of urgency to move away from fossil fuels, the country is transitioning gradually, and heating engineers can do the same. It is certainly not a case of gas one minute and renewables the next, and heating engineers should aim to delivering a combination of solutions to suit the needs of every home. Experienced heating engineers are in a fantastic position to embrace this growing marketplace that shows no sign of slowing down. Now is the time to upskill – an investment in training will ensure your business can grow alongside the heat pump sector over the next year and beyond.
*
https://www.nesta.org.uk/report/delivering- clean-heat-a-policy-plan/
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