An online training course for heat pump installation has been launched by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) to help fill a skills gap highlighted by the government’s flagship Green Homes Grant voucher scheme. The course has been developed in collaboration with the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and heating equipment manufacturer Worcester Bosch and will be delivered through the Association’s online training Academy from March. To kickstart the scheme, 700 free places are being offered to qualified plumbing and heating engineers (there will be a charge for the training from May onwards).
The initiative is also receiving funding from the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as government officials recognise the need to accelerate specialised training to support the grant scheme, which has been extended until March 2022, and to ensure air source heat pumps are correctly installed and maintained.
“One of the biggest barriers to increased adoption of heat pump technology and the take up of the green home grants is the lack of suitably qualified installers,” says the Association’s director of training and skills Helen Yeulet. “It is also very important that installations meet a high technical standard and that engineers fully understand the technology, so consumers get the full energy and carbon saving benefits.
“We are delighted to be working in collaboration with the HBF and Worcester Bosch because our combined expertise means we can include the most up-to-date knowledge in the training and use people who really understand the subject to deliver it.”
To register your interest visit: www.thebesa.com/academy/heatpumpsinstaller
