With a growing number of installers looking to learn about heat pumps and other low carbon heating solutions, Vaillant is reporting that it has seen a 100% increase in the numbers attending its training courses.
More than 6300 installers either booked an online or in-centre heat pump training course last year. Vaillant has also invested in excess of £1.2 million into its training team to ensure it can continue to meet demand. Over the last two years, the training team has grown to 27 expert members of staff who have developed over 47 training courses. Taking on board feedback from installers, which highlighted the need for training options which can fit around busy schedules, Vaillant has developed a blended learning approach, delivered through its Vaillant Academy.
This allows installers to compete theory-based modules at home, with the practical training elements completed at one of the company’s six Centres of Excellence, located in Derbyshire, Kent, Leeds, Hampshire, Bristol and Glasgow; plus Vaillant’s partner centres in Sunderland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. There are several ‘learning paths’ that can be completed via the Academy, which focus on developing installers understanding of products and product selection, right through to installation and commissioning.
The popular ‘Heat Pump Journey’ teaches installers all about how the technology works and how heat pumps will help to decarbonise heat in the UK. It concludes with in-depth practical training on how to install and commission Vaillant’s aroTHERM plus air source heat pump.
Mark Wilkins, technologies and training director at Vaillant comments: “As the UK moves towards a low carbon future, it’s vital the industry comes together to ensure we have the skilled heating engineers in place to deliver these ambitions. Since moving our training modules online during the pandemic, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of installers signing up to complete our in-depth heat pump courses and modules.
“As a manufacturer, we remain committed to supporting those working in the industry and ensuring they can access the training and support they need, when they need it. It is for this reason we continue to invest so heavily in the training we offer at Vaillant, and we’re delighted to see so many of those installers who have attended heat pump training with us have gone on to install a heat pump in a real-world application.”
To access the Vaillant Academy, visit: https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/
