DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL HEATING A


s the United Kingdom pushes forward toward its ambitious 2050 Net Zero target, decarbonisation of heating systems has,


rightly, become a top priority. According to the UK Green Building Council


(UKGBC), the Built Environment is responsible for 25% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions, so transitioning to renewable energy sources is essential to reducing this figure. Heat pumps for domestic and commercial


applications are emerging as a cornerstone of this transition. However, the shortage of trained heat pump installer poses a significant obstacle and threatens progress in this area.


The scale of the challenge


The figures from 2024 present a mixed outlook. The Heat Pump Association reported that 2024 saw 9,062 installers complete their training - a 15% increase on 2023. However, with approximately 19,800 trained installers, the total still falls far short of the estimated 30,000 installers needed by 2028 to meet the government’s target of 600,000 heat pump installations annually. This situation is particularly concerning given that there are 135,000 gas engineers in the UK. This gap raises a pressing question: how can the


UK scale up the skilled workforce required to drive heat pump installations in both domestic homes and commercial buildings? To understand the challenge, in 2023, we spoke to 350 heating engineers about their thoughts regarding renewable technology. Through this research, we identified several barriers slowing the growth of the skilled workforce, and over the next 24 months, we set out on a plan to tackle these barriers.


Making training more accessible


One of the primary challenges we identified was the geographic disparity in training availability. Installers in rural or underserved areas often struggle to access nearby certification programmes, creating regional imbalances in the availability of skilled professionals. To address this, we partnered with GTEC


Training to use our 350 branches across the UK to host training – whether in one of our Energy Efficiency Centres of Excellence (Farnborough and Basildon) or by bringing a mobile training rig to a branch location. By taking training opportunities closer to the installer, we’ve supported over 370 in completing their training since the start of 2023.


Reducing financial barriers


The cost of training was also stated as a significant deterrent in our research. The construction industry has the highest level of self-employment of any sector in the UK (Statista). With many tradespeople not earning if they aren’t working and training often self-funded, taking time off the tools to upskill is a double-hit to their revenue. Recognising this barrier to accreditation, City


14 March 2025


www.heatingandventilating.net


Bridging the heat pump gap


Hemal Morjaria, managing director of renewables & electrical at City Plumbing, explores how we can tackle the gap in installer training


Above: Hemal Morjaria, managing director of renewables & electrical at City Plumbing


Plumbing and GTEC made a bid for funding through the BEIS Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Competition, enabling us to offer funded heat pump training, along with water regulation and unvented qualifications if required, to installers based in England.


This funding ranges from 50% for large


companies to 70% for SMEs, bringing the cost of a three-day accredited Level 3 air source heat pump training course for SMEs down to £160 + VAT. By offering partial or full funding through government grants or industry-sponsored initiatives, we can make training more accessible and incentivise more installers to enter the renewable heating market.


Making specification simpler


Accurate sizing, specification, and installation are critical to maximising the efficiency of heat pump systems and, likewise, dispelling misconceptions about their effectiveness. One way to support this process is through tools


and digital platforms. Online tools that assist with system specification, heat load calculations, and component selection can make the installation process more straightforward, saving time and increasing confidence in the quality of the installation. We’ve seen massive demand for such tools, with our heatpumpkit.com platform that helps installers identify the best heat pump system for a home and automatically generates a kit with all the required components, attracting 400 daily visitors. Likewise, we must remember that the wider


supply chain also needs a greater understanding of heat pump systems to support sales and specifications more effectively. Merchants such as us have enormously experienced colleagues, but lower-temperature systems are still relatively new to everyone. To this end, we’ve been strategically upskilling our


workforce for the past three years to aid customers. Since October 2023, over 650 City Plumbing colleagues have received training. What’s more, as of January 2025, over 50% of our branch managers and 100% of our sales team have participated in hands-on training at manufacturer facilities, deepening their practical knowledge of heat pump installations. Ultimately, closing the skills gap in heat pump


installations requires collaboration between government, industry, and training providers. By expanding access to training, reducing financial barriers, educating the supply chain, and leveraging technology, the UK can build a robust workforce capable of supporting its Net Zero ambitions.


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