The UK's first-ever Heat Pump Week (23rd-29th September) brought the spotlight onto a critical challenge in the race to net zero: the growing demand for heat pumps and the urgent need for skilled installers to meet it.
Brett Forster, Head of Training at NAPIT, emphasised this point, stating that:
"as the demand for heat pumps accelerates, a sufficiently skilled workforce in the renewable electrical and microgeneration trades will be required."
This skills gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity, with the potential to create a new generation of green jobs.
The government has shown commitment to decarbonisation with initiatives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and policies promoting energy efficiency. This commitment is reflected in the impressive growth of heat pump sales, which have more than doubled from 24,591 in 2019 to 60,244 in 2023, according to the Heat Pump Association.
NAPIT is playing a key role in addressing this skills gap by providing low-carbon heat pump training across its four training centres. This ensures a pipeline of competent and qualified installers ready to meet the growing demand.
But it's not just about training installers. NAPIT also recognises the importance of consumer awareness and support. Homeowners can easily find NAPIT registered installers with the right qualifications to ensure a compliant installation.
As the UK continues its journey towards a greener future, closing the green skills gap and ensuring a robust workforce of qualified heat pump installers will be crucial in achieving net zero targets.
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