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Heat Pump Week Highlights The Skills Gap
The UK’s first-ever Heat Pump Week, held from 23rd to 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:
“As the demand for heat pumps accelerates, a sufficiently skilled workforce in the renewable electrical and microgeneration trades will be required.”
Brett Forster, Head of Training at NAPIT
This skills gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity, with the potential to create a new generation of green jobs.
Heat Pump Demand Is Growing
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.
Training More Qualified Installers
NAPIT is playing a key role in addressing this skills gap by providing low-carbon heat pump training across its four training centres.
This helps create a pipeline of competent and qualified installers ready to meet the growing demand.
Helping Homeowners Find The Right Installer
But it’s not just about training installers. NAPIT also recognises the importance of consumer awareness and support.
Homeowners can find NAPIT-registered installers with the right qualifications to help ensure a compliant installation.
Closing The Green Skills Gap
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.
