PHAM NEWS | OCTOBER 2026 6 News Review


Heat pump uptake slowing this year


Heat pump installations in existing UK homes fell by 22% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to the latest government figures. A total of 20,895 retrofit heat


pumps were installed between January and June, down from 26,768 in the first half of 2025. However, the latest figure is almost double the 10,605 installations recorded during the first half of 2021. The figures show that 2025 installations rose by 9% to 53,407, compared with 48,857 in 2024. The 2025 total was nearly five times the figure recorded in 2020. Air to water heat pumps


accounted for 99% of installations during the first half of 2026.The South East recorded the largest number of installations, with 3,673, followed by the South West with 14% of the UK total and the East of England with 13%.


Only London and Northern


Ireland recorded growth com- pared with the first half of 2025. London installations increased to 1,065, while Northern Ireland rose from nine to 36. In August, households made


about 7,500 applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the second-highest month since the grant opened in 2022. That is 8% below July’s record of 8,150, the month the grant rose to £9,000 for homes replacing oil or LPG heating. Gav Mur ray,


“Looking ahead, the Warm


Homes Loan Scheme, expected to open this autumn, will provide households with additional support through access to more affordable finance.” Swetta Coopamah, head


home


heating director at Hive, says: “August’s figures may have dipped slightly, but there is still clear appetite among households to explore heat pumps and the support available to make the switch.


of smart energy systems at BEAMA, adds: “A 22% fall in heat pump installations in the first half of this year is a clear signal that we need to tackle the consumer proposition, not simply promote the technology harder.” Sachin Vibhute, technical


consultant and product training manager at LG, says: “To ensure that the rate of installations can keep pace, investment in training and skills must grow in parallel with demand.”


Consumer protection gaps


A new research report from TrustMark reveals a lack of consumer knowledge and understanding about the protections that should be in place before home improvement work begins. The report highlights the need for improvements to consumer protection throughout the home improvement process. Research involving more than 1,500


homeowners found that two-thirds had not received a contract before work started, while only 24% expected tradespeople to provide information about how to complain. Nearly a quarter of homeowners who had work carried out experienced a serious problem. The research also showed low expectations


around information that should be provided at the start of a job. The most commonly expected information was the price, with 82% of homeowners citing this, followed by a full job specification at 71% and payment terms at 68%. Information about complaints and redress


ranked much lower, with fewer than a quarter of homeowners expecting to receive it.


Heating oil prices double


Households relying on heating oil are facing a sharp rise in costs, with the latest spot price up 95.3% compared with the same day last year. As of 11 September 2026, the price stood at 102.3p per litre, above the 12-month average of 77.8p. While prices remain below the March 2026 peak of 134.2p per litre, the year-on-year increase comes as many households prepare to fill their tanks ahead of winter. With suppliers often requiring a minimum delivery of around 500 litres, a tank refill at today’s price would cost more than £500 before additional charges. Mike Foster, chief executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), says:


Boost for apprentices


The Scottish government has made an additional £8.8m invest- ment in Modern Apprenticeships, a move welcomed by SNIPEF. The funding will increase contribution rates by 10% from 2027/28. Stephanie Lowe, deputy chief executive of SNIPEF, says the uplift is an important step after several years in which the real value of apprenticeship funding had declined. “However, this cannot be the


end of the conversation,” she says. “A successful apprenticeship system depends not only on properly resourced delivery, but on employers having the confidence, capacity and support to create


and sustain


opportunities. This is particularly important in plumbing and heating, where employers make a significant four-year com- mitment to developing the skilled professionals Scotland will need.”


Overall, 58% of households reported


receiving all the information they expected before work began. Other responses indicated that low-carbon projects such as heat pumps and solar panels were most likely to result in serious problems, reported by 42% of homeowners, followed by extensions at 41% and insulation measures at 38%. Use the link below to access the report. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/04


“These figures should ring alarm bells in Whitehall. Heating oil customers are seeing a sharp spot year-on-year rise just as many are preparing to fill their tanks for winter. For off-grid households, this is not a marginal increase on a monthly direct debit; it can mean finding hundreds of pounds upfront simply to make sure the heating is available when temperatures fall.


“The government recognised these pressures before and provided support to households using alternative fuels. That support was welcome, but the latest price movement suggests it is time to look again at whether vulnerable and off-grid households have adequate protection going into winter.” EUA is urging ministers to monitor


the market closely and consider whether targeted help is needed if prices remain elevated through the autumn and winter period.


BESA welcomes a new president


Anna Shephard (pictured), operations director at OSM Ventilation, part of the NG Bailey Group, has been elected president of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) for 2026/27. Speaking at the BESA President’s Lunch in London, Anna said building services account for more than half the value of most construction projects and highlighted opportunities in sectors including digital infrastructure and healthcare. She also discussed


BESA’s newly published Top 30 M&E Contractors Report, which she said demonstrated the sector’s resilience during challeng- ing economic conditions. Collective turnover among the businesses covered has


risen from £4.7bn to more than £6bn since the pandemic. “Our businesses are embracing the benefits offered by automation, AI, integration and better use of data – not simply to cut costs, but to improve quality and make better technical decisions,” said Anna. “More are also making collaboration a practical way of working because the scale of the challenges ahead means none of us can succeed alone.”


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