PHAM NEWS | JULY/AUGUST 2026 TrainingUpdate Free course off ers heat pump qualifi cation


Smart Energy Training is off ering a free four-day domestic heat pump course for experienced heating installers at its centres in Ashbourne and Lutterworth, with Nottingham due to follow. Eligible applicants must have three years


of industry experience, a current Water Regulations and Byelaws certifi cate, and a Level 2 or 3 plumbing or heating qualifi cation. The course covers installation, commissioning, servicing, maintenance and fault fi nding for air source heat pump systems, combining classroom learning with practical training. Successful candidates receive a BPEC Domestic Air Source Heat Pump certifi cate, valid for fi ve years. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/726/24


Giving


students a head start


South Devon College is now able to provide its plumbing students with practical training on modern pressurisation systems following the installation of a DAB Pumps ESYBOX and ESYTANK system in its workshops. The college’s plumbing courses


combine workshop-based learning with industry-focused training, allowing students to develop


skills in installation, operation, maintenance and fault fi nding. Access to current equipment helps ensure teaching remains aligned with industry practices and improves confi dence when working independently. Adam Ferneyhough, country


director for the UK and Ireland at DAB Pumps, says: “By giving students access to the kind of systems they will encounter in homes and commercial buildings, we are helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/726/25


Green tech centre takes new kit on board


Daikin UK has supplied air source heat pump technology to the Advanced Green Technology Centre at Stoke-on-Trent College’s Burslem Campus. Delivered in partnership with renewable training specialist Quantum Group, the installation is the latest in a programme that has equipped 46 further education colleges across the UK with Daikin systems. The £2.3 million centre includes


facilities for heat pump training alongside solar PV, electric vehicle charging and wall insulation technologies. Training areas are designed to provide practical experience with installation, maintenance, fault fi nding and live working procedures. Each training facility incorporates


fully operational heat pump systems and modular learning booths to give students experience with equipment used in the fi eld, supporting the development of skills required for work in the renewable heating sector.


Maria Gonella, CEO of Quantum


Group, says: “Addressing the green skills gap is one of the most important challenges facing the UK right now, and it requires a collective eff ort from everyone involved. Our partnership with Daikin allows us to put the industry’s leading heat pump technology directly into the hands of students across the country, and we are delighted to see that momentum continue in Stoke-on- Trent.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/726/26


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Videos simplify boiler install


A suite of training videos has been launched by Vokèra to support installers working with its fl agship Pinnacle boiler range. Available on the company’s YouTube channel and presented by technical trainer David Iszchak, the 15 ‘how-to’ tutorials cover key stages of installation, set-up and user features, including gas type conversion, range rating, pump cycle adjustment and condensate record settings. They also highlight key technologies within


the Pinnacle range, including its ultra-wide 1:13 modulation ratio and soft-start ramping logic, which help improve effi ciency and maintain stable performance. They also explain Active Combustion Control (ACC), which automatically adjusts the air-to-gas ratio for consistent operation and enables straightforward conversion from natural gas to LPG. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/726/27


Recognition for apprentices


Steve Willis Training Centres recently celebrated this year’s Apprentice Graduation events for its Burgess Hill and Portchester facilities, bringing together apprentices, their families, friends and employers to recognise their achievements. In acknowledgement of the


dedication and hard work shown by apprentices over the course of their training, the company celebrated the success of 61 apprentices who have achieved their Level 3 Installation & Maintenance Electrician Apprenticeship Standard, and 62 who have succeeded in achieving their Level 3 Gas Engineering Operative Apprenticeship Standard. Awards were presented to apprentices who demonstrated outstanding performance


throughout their training, with awards generously sponsored by industry partners. Burgess Hill awards were sponsored by Phase Electrical, Kane and Burgess Hill District Lions, while the Portchester awards were sponsored by Megger, Fusebox and Kane. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/726/28


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