Heat pump course could train 40,000 installers per year

UK: The secretary of state for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, has welcomed a new scheme which could train 40,000 heat pump installers per year.

The new training course, launched by the Heat Pump Association (HPA), aims to equip the heating industry with the additional skills needed to deliver on this target and deliver low carbon heat to hundreds of thousands of British homes.

The new course will be available at 38 training centres operated by HPA members across the UK. At maximum capacity it could train over 40,000 installers per year.

“While heat pumps are fast becoming a natural option for households, we need to ensure we have enough skilled tradespeople to hit our target of 600,000 installations each year by 2028 – so the Heat Pump Association setting up this training scheme is absolutely critical in this endeavour,” said Business and Energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.

“Today’s news is a great example of how government and industry can work together to accelerate progress and create the high-skilled jobs needed to make homes greener and more energy efficient.”

“Today’s launch is a landmark achievement and the HPA is proud to have worked hard with others across industry to bring this new heat pump training pathway to life,” said HPA chair Phil Hurley.

“When we laid out our vision to government last year, we recognised our role in delivering training and skills, and we have successfully achieved this whilst working in constructive partnership with the secretary of state and his team.

“The heat pump industry is now fully equipped to lead the way in transforming the way homes are heated to reduce carbon and lower energy bills.

“Importantly, we are also supporting plans to build back better through up-skilling existing heating installers so that they are equipped with the tools and skills they need to allow consumers to access heat pumps as a solution to decarbonise their homes.”