TRAINING
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How digital platforms are revolutionising the way we train tradespeople
Griff Thomas, executive director of energy transition and external aff airs at United Infrastructure, GTEC Training and Heatly explains why the shift to a new wave of digital tools isn’t about replacing practical training, but enhancing it, extending it and making sure it’s accessible
T
he building services sector is in the midst of one of the biggest transformations in its history. As heat pumps, solar PV, energy
storage and smart controls become central to the UK’s decarbonisation journey, installers are under pressure to upskill quickly, confi dently and continuously. I’m a big believer that training should not end when a learner leaves the centre. Knowledge must follow them onto site, supporting decisions in real time, reducing installation errors, and boosting overall competency. Fortunately, a new wave of digital tools is making this possible. Online learning platforms, Augmented Reality (AR) applications and modular micro-content are redefi ning how tradespeople develop the “smart skills” needed to futureproof their careers.
The rise of digital-fi rst learning in the trades
The trades have traditionally been hands-on professions, where learning by doing is rightly considered essential. But digital delivery now plays an important role in ensuring that installers arrive at their practical training with strong foundational knowledge, and can refresh it on demand afterwards. We’re seeing a huge increase in demand for blended learning formats. Short online modules allow engineers to complete theory at their own pace, in their own time, without taking a full day off the tools. This type of digital training can be updated instantly, keeping pace with changes to standards, technologies and best practice guidance far more easily than printed materials.
Augmented Reality for applied learning
One of the most promising tools in the digital training toolbox is AR. It allows trade professionals to visualise and interact with digital equipment in real-world settings, layering guidance and information onto live models through smartphones or tablets. Imagine an engineer surveying a heat pump
installation. Instead of flicking through manuals, they can use AR to see recommended clearances, pipework routing options, component placement and wiring pathways with annotations overlaid directly onto the space in front of them. This technology dramatically improves
understanding of spatial requirements and system design and reduces the likelihood of
24 February 2026
Above: Griff Thomas, executive director of energy transition and external aff airs at United Infrastructure, GTEC Training and Heatly
mistakes before materials are ordered or installed. We’re already seeing AR being used more in heating and renewables. Manufacturers are developing apps to support installers through commissioning sequences, while training providers are experimenting with AR-enhanced course materials. As this technology develops, it will form an increasingly essential part of both learning and on-site support.
Heatly and the rise of digital installation support tools
While AR and online learning support the “before” and “during” stages of training, digital installation platforms provide the ongoing, on-the-job assistance that many installers tell us they need most. Tools like Heatly, Fixfl o, and myenergi’s Installer Assistance are becoming invaluable resources for tradespeople. Heatly’s platform, with its heat-loss calculation engine, installation workfl ows and step-by-step guidance, is helping engineers design heat pump systems with a level of precision and confi dence that was once hard to achieve without specialist support. These platforms act more like interactive
mentors than digital manuals. They provide installation checklists and workfl ows, live confi guration guidance tailored to specifi c products, diagnostic support to reduce troubleshooting time, data capture for compliance and quality assurance, and access to updated technical standards. In other words, they extend the value of training
into the fi eld, supporting tradespeople exactly at the moment they need it.
Supporting the green transition through smarter skills
Decarbonising heat is one of the most complex engineering challenges the UK has ever faced. If installers are to feel comfortable fitting heat pumps, batteries, smart controls and hybrid systems at scale, they need clarity, confidence and consistent support. The move towards digital, modular and post-
training learning helps bridge the competency gap that currently constrains the sector. It means experienced gas engineers, for example, can transition to heat pumps more smoothly, and ensures that less experienced installers can access expert guidance whenever they need it.
A collaborative future
The success of the industry will depend on collaboration between educators, manufacturers, software developers and regulators. Training providers are already embracing digital innovation, but we are relying on partners who can supply high-quality product data, interactive tools and up-to-date technical content. Ultimately, smart-skills development is about
empowering tradespeople and ensuring they have access to the knowledge and confi dence to deliver high-quality, effi cient, low-carbon installations, wherever and whenever support is required.
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