The Energy Efficiency Centre has set a target of 30,000 certified heat pump installers by 2028 to address the heat pump skills gap
A campaign will be launched to address the shortage of certified heat pump installers in the UK. Energy Efficiency at City Plumbing is a national heating and plumbing merchant supported by the Energy Saving Trust and GTEC Training.
Heat pumps are essential in the UK’s ambition to decarbonise home heating and reach Net Zero. However, there are only 1,500 MCS-certified heat pump installers in the UK, compared to 135,000 trained gas engineers.
Heat pumps are the best option for a greener country
According to research from the Building Research Establishment, Heat pumps are the best option for transitioning households from fossil fuel-based energy to clean energy. Heat pumps can be installed and operated cheaply in well-insulated buildings. Heat pumps provide steady, lower-temperature heat that can efficiently warm insulated buildings.
Despite this, 88% of homes in the UK are still heated by natural gas, contributing to 23% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions. A lack of public awareness, slow momentum on energy efficiency changes, and poor investment in the market have all been identified as key reasons behind the heat pump skills gap.
“We are calling on installers to take this opportunity to upskill – and for the industry to make training as accessible as possible. The Heat Pump Association estimates we will need 30,000 certified installers to meet the government’s desire for 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028. So, there is a lot of work to do to convince and inspire installers to take up training,” said Hemal Morjaria, Managing Director, Energy Efficiency at City Plumbing.
The new campaign hopes to improve access to training
The Committee for Climate Change identified the skills shortage in 2019 and launched the Energy Efficiency Centre in response. The centre aims to help clients gain access to training and improve their business while helping the UK achieve its Net Zero targets. The Energy Efficiency Centre has partnered with GTEC Training to offer heat pump training, and the new centre will be open to the public.
“The Energy Efficiency Centre is designed to help transition installers across to new technologies and to display the technologies we have here at City Plumbing. That includes heat pumps, solar panels, and underfloor heating,” added Morjaria.
“This means homeowners can visit to learn more about alternative heat source technology, be inspired by what they see and visualise how it would work in their homes.”
The campaign has received support from the Energy Saving Trust
The campaign will embark on a ‘Forward Together’ trade tour in conjunction with leading suppliers. The aim of the tour is to educate and inspire customers on alternative home heating solutions.
The campaign will visit 47 branches in England, Wales and Scotland between June and September 2023. Customers will be able to talk to big-name manufacturers such Vaillant, Daikin, Airflow, Worcester, Grant, Inta, Speedfit, Uponor and Maincor.
“We are committed to addressing the climate emergency and building a sustainable future. To achieve this, we need installers with the skills and expertise to install low carbon heating, including heat pumps, and help households across the UK reduce carbon emissions and contribute to net zero,” concluded Inga Jirgensone, head of business development at the Energy Saving Trust’s Group.
