Ministers should launch a national campaign to recruit an army of plumbers and heating installers as ‘Climate Heroes’, according to a new report from The Social Market Foundation (SMF).
A campaign aimed at recognising the importance of the home heat workforce could recruit more into this vital sector, says the non-partisan think-tank.
Cutting the use of fossil fuel heating will reduce Britain’s dependence on imported gas, making the country less vulnerable to disruption on international markets that is driving up energy bills, the SMF says. But the current generation of plumbers lacks incentives to getting training for heat pumps, and not enough new recruits are being drawn into heat installation work.
The report says that if the government is to meet its goal of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028, it will need to mount a national charm offensive that encourages more people to train for heat installation by showing the national importance of the work. More needs to be done to show plumbers the financial and environmental advantages of training for heat pumps.
Policymakers need to also address the barriers to re-training, such as high costs, inconsistent training standards, and lack of robust plan for the industry.
The SMF identified concern that not enough young recruits are being drawn into an industry that will need a large expansion to meet the challenge of installing millions of heat pumps. To make the job more attractive, plumbers should be celebrated as key workers leading the green revolution in home heating, the SMF states.
Other key recommendations to policymakers include:
• Stimulate consumer demand by boosting the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
• Launching a clear national information campaign on the phasing out of fossil fuel heating for installers and consumers alike
• Consider providing tax relief for sole trader and self-employed installers when they’re re-training
• Set out clear training standards and certification for all heat pump installers
Amy Norman, senior researcher, comments: “Plumbers and heat installers are going to be absolutely vital to the huge national effort to get the carbon out of our home heating. But right now, they don’t have the clarity or incentives they need to get training in fitting heat pumps.
“We need a dramatic call from government to call up a generation of climate heroes who will take the carbon out of our homes. The message is clear: your country needs you to get trained to fit the heat pumps that will help make Britain’s homes cleaner, greener and less dependent on expensive imported gas.
“Ministers should use the Government’s messaging power to celebrate plumbers and heat installers as Climate Heroes playing a vital role in delivering a greener future.”
Peter Aldous MP adds: “Decarbonising British homes will play a vital role in delivering Net Zero, and as this report shows much will depend on the skills and effort of plumbers and heat installers.”
The report is being launched before a virtual panel event hosted by SMF, in association with the APPG on Intelligent Energy and Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group. The panel event will feature Peter Aldous MP, Lord Oates, and SMF Senior Researcher Amy Norman, chaired by SMF Director James Kirkup.
