JULY/AUGUST 2025 | VOLUME 63 | ISSUE 6
Free heat pumps for installers to fit in their own homes
UK heating engineers are being offered a free heat pump to install in their own homes as part of an extended scheme organised by Nesta that aims to boost the country’s transition to low carbon heating.
The ‘Start at Home’ scheme builds on the success of a pilot programme in Scotland which launched in 2023. Backed by a number of manufacturers, it aims to support up to 5,000 heating engineers with expert training, guidance and a free heat pump to install at their own property. Results of the initial pilot
revealed that providing heating engineers with both the training and heat pump to fit in their own homes significantly increased their confidence, technical knowledge and willingness to embrac e
low-carbon
technologies. Nesta, in partnership with the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF), initially recruited 36 experienced heating engineers across Scotland to participate in the pilot. The trial featured two groups: one received training on heat pump installation, while the other received both training and a free heat pump to install in their own homes. All of the 18 participants who
installed a heat pump in their own home reported an increase in their understanding of heat pump system design and installation, with 13 out of 18 describing it as a substantial gain. After installing a heat pump in their own home, 11 of 18 participants said that they were more confident about heat pumps as a home heating technology and advising customers. The ‘Start at Home’ project aims to address a significant barrier in the UK’s efforts to shift from gas to low carbon heating like heat pumps. While a growing number of heating engineers are completing heat pump training, this has not yet translated into a large, active workforce of heat pump installers. Currently heating engineers
who complete training on heat pump installation struggle to get their first ‘real world’ customer. A DESNZ survey found that only 27% of newly trained installers completed a heat pump installation within a year, partly
due to demand but also other issues such as confidence in the technology and the relevant accreditation. Offering a free installation to engineers in their own home will greatly increase engineers’ confidence in the installation of the technology and give them the option to seek MCS accreditation.
Scaled up scheme Phase two of the ‘Start at Home’ project seeks to scale the model across Britain by signing up 5,000 heating engineers in the first 12 months, each of whom will receive expert support and a free heat pump to install in their own home. The heat pumps are funded
through existing grants and the schemes will be operated by manufacturers and umbrella schemes, including the Heat Pump Installer Network, Vaillant in partnership with VitoEnergy and EcoFuture, and Grant UK. Nesta is working to add more
partners to scale up capacity and is exploring ways to ‘crowd in’ more funding to help partners bridge the period between purchasing a heat pump for an installer and the rebate from government grants. Nesta will be supporting partners to reach installers through a nationwide campaign, evaluating impact and sharing learning with industry and governments. Benoit Siberdt, a senior analyst
at Nesta, says: “We think by scaling this nationally we can smash a big barrier to growing the heat pump installer workforce. We want plumbers and boiler installers to become advocates for heat pumps and we increase our chances of that if they trust the technology.”
Grant UK has launched a
version of Nesta’s Start at Home initiative to heating engineers across England and Wales. The ‘Start with Grant’ initiative is in partnership with Nesta, but also offers heating engineers a £1,500 contribution to installation costs. “This isn’t just about installing a heat pump,” says Anna Wakefield, head of internal sales and marketing at Grant UK. “It’s about helping installers understand the technology, build their confidence and become genuine advocates for low carbon heating. When they can speak from personal experience,
it
transforms how they connect with customers. Start with Grant gives them that insight and reassurance.” Installers are invited to visit
https://www.startathome.org.uk to sign up to Nesta’s scheme.
Inside this issue
phamnews.co.uk
Gadgets & Tools See page 12
Training Update See page 13
Step-by-step See page 34
New products See page 35
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