INDUSTRY INSIGHT


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but how to build a workforce capable of succeeding in a more complex environment.


Strong demand, shifting expectations


Heating success in a changing market


Hemal Morjaria, managing director, heating and renewables at City Plumbing, explores its latest research into the evolving world of heating and plumbing


T


he heating industry is going through a rapid change. Rising customer demand, the shift to renewable technologies and new digital


ways of working are reshaping jobs and businesses. For many installers, this creates optimism about


Left: Hemal Morjaria, managing director, heating and renewables at City Plumbing


Work pipelines are healthy, and most professionals say they have enough activity to meet their needs, with many reporting positive experiences collaborating with other trades. However, customer priorities are shifting. Installers report that people are more likely to repair rather than replace heating systems, driven by tighter budgets, rising environmental awareness and the higher cost of new technologies. This creates opportunities for businesses that can extend system lifecycles while introducing more efficient alternatives at the right moment.


The race to upskill in renewables


Although there is a positive outlook, there is widespread concern about labour shortages. Nearly three-quarters of installers would consider moving overseas for better pay, and a similar proportion identify a lack of skilled professionals in renewables as a major barrier to growth. Demand for heat pumps, solar PV and underfloor heating is rising, and many installers are investing in training, but not at the pace required to meet national goals. More than half of professionals have already been trained in heat pumps, with a significant proportion planning to do so in the next year.


Regional disparities


growth and diversification. For others, it highlights structural challenges that risk holding the sector back unless support, investment and skills development keep pace. City Plumbing’s recent Taking the Temperature


report, based on research with 500 UK plumbing and heating installers, shows a sector that is active and entrepreneurial, but stretched by rising workloads, skills gaps and administrative pressures. As businesses look ahead to 2026, the question is not only how to meet changing demands


26 January 2026


Different parts of the UK are progressing at different speeds. Wales, the East Midlands, the North West and Scotland report the highest rates of trained installers, giving these regions a stronger base from which to meet demand. Other areas have lower current capacity but a strong appetite to upskill. Northern Ireland, for example, has the lowest training uptake today, but most professionals plan to train over the next twelve months. These uneven levels of maturity have implications for customer experience, service availability and carbon reduction, particularly if some areas struggle to scale fast enough.


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