PHAM NEWS | JUNE 2024 Training & Education 27
On the pathway to a low carbon future
To help support the drive for more heat pump installations, Vaillant has launched its Aspire training pathway, providing a flexible learning platform which will enable heating engineers to respond to demand for low carbon solutions and expand their business. Jamie Eccles, an installer who is currently on his Aspire journey, talks about his experience so far.
I
t has been estimated that to achieve the government’s 600k a year heat pump target, the UK will
need approximately 40,000 installers working full-time on heat pumps by 2028. However, as most installers will also still be servicing and maintaining gas boilers, at least in the short to medium term, this figure needs to increase – with around 100k installers to be re-trained in total.
According to government statistics, the heating and cooling sector is dominated by small-sized businesses, with 95% being sole traders or firms with fewer than 10 employees. When Vaillant developed its Aspire learning pathway it was therefore crucial that the manufacturer focused on engaging these small businesses and lone installers to help prepare them for the heating industry’s low carbon future.
Thinking ahead Jamie Eccles, director of Dunfermline-based Eccles Heating Ltd, started his Aspire journey last year and comments: “We have been installing Vaillant boilers for years, so it made sense that we move towards fitting heat pumps. Aspire is tailored to your needs and we felt it was particularly suited to sole traders and small heating businesses such as ours. We make up a huge percentage of the industry so it’s really important we are investing in our heat pump journey now, so we are prepared for a low carbon future.” More than 1,100 installers took part in Vaillant’s Installer Survey: Aspiring to a Green Future. The results of the survey enabled the company to get a deeper understanding of the barriers and motivators behind upskilling to install heat pumps.
One of the top motivators These are
opportunities for smaller businesses like mine to
capitalise on, and the sooner we are upskilled the better
for installers was being able to future-proof their business and career development, as well as the opportunity to benefit the environment by supporting the net zero agenda.
Jamie adds: “The
government’s proposed ban of the sale of new gas boilers by 2035 is already being reflected in our current business dealings and conversations with customers. We are seeing an increasing number of customers asking about heat pumps and it’s quite common for us to receive heat pump enquiries almost daily. “Heat pumps are going to be a major part of the heating industry in the not-too- distant future and I don’t want us to be left behind.”
Rising demand
The recent uplift to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant – whereby consumers can now apply for a grant of £7,500 for an air source heat pump (previously £5,000) – has seen applications for heat pumps increase significantly. In the first week of the grant uplift, applications were more than three times higher than the average weekly rate and in subsequent weeks, new applications have remained
nearly 60% higher than the previous weekly average. For installers, this also presents significant revenue opportunities for their businesses. The Vaillant survey revealed that installers were well aware of these opportunities, with the third motivator for undertaking heat pump training being the commercial benefits available from installing a diverse range of heating technologies. Jamie explains: “My business is looking to diversify into renewables, and I want us to be ready for the future of the heating industry. Both me and my co-worker are under 40 so we’ve got a lot of years left in our careers. I don’t want to be left behind, fitting boilers while the rest of the world moves on.
“Additional heat pump expertise will really help with our business revenue. These are usually large installations, with additional products required from radiators to controls. These are opportunities for smaller heating businesses like mine to capitalise on, and the sooner we are upskilled the better.”
Tailor made
The survey also delved into preferred learning styles, revealing that a combination of in-person and online training was preferred by 40% of participants. Aspire is a learning pathway that is bespoke to each individual and their current skill set, with a mix of online and face- to-face modules held in one of Vaillant’s six Centres of Excellence.
Jamie has completed some modules online and attended face-to-face training at the company’s Centre of Excellence in Glasgow. He says: “To be honest, I was a little anxious about the online aspect of the training as I’m much better with practical stuff and getting my hands dirty! But the online
portal was so straightforward and once you’re in there it clearly sets out where you are in the training journey so you can see where you’re going. “It makes a lot of sense to have the knowledge basics online – there’s really no need for this to be face-to-face and means we can do the training in our own time. We’re so busy and time really is money for installers, so it’s great to have that flexibility. “I have really enjoyed the
face-to-face training too and the Vaillant training centre in Glasgow is by far the best I have ever set foot in. John, our trainer, took us through Level 1 and 2 of Understanding Heat Pumps and we really got to grips with the Vaillant products. In one session, we got to strip down a heat pump and put it back together, so I feel like I really know how each part fits together and operates.” As part of creating the Aspire learning pathway, Vaillant has aligned with both NAPIT and MCS to ensure the mandatory technical competencies were met throughout. This means that installers who complete the pathway can also gain recognised accreditation. This will be fundamental for installers when they are putting their heat pump training into practice. Jamie is now in the final stages of his Aspire learning pathway, whereby he will need to complete a heat pump install independently in line with MCS accreditation standards. He adds: “I’ve already worked on a few heat pump installs with a renewables company, so it’s now just a case of finding the right project for my independent install. I’m really looking forward to completing this – and reaping the rewards of the Aspire training through increased opportunities for my business.” ◼
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