UK research and innovation foundation Nesta is reminding heating engineers about its Start at Home initiative to fit a government-funded heat pump in their homes. The aim is to give them the confidence and know-how to install heat pumps for customers and ensure they are ready for the country’s changing heating needs.  

Heating engineers who are interested in a funded heat pump can find and register for a Start at Home scheme that works for them at: startathome.org.uk. The programme is being rolled out in partnership with a wide range of providers across England, Scotland and Wales (see below).

Madeleine Gabriel, Nesta’s Director of Sustainable Future, explains: “As more and more households look to switch their home heating, it will be all hands to the pump – and we want to help ensure that Britain’s heating workforce is ready to respond. Although lots of heating engineers are curious about heat pumps, many rarely get the chance to see one, let alone install one. The ‘Start at Home’ scheme changes that by beginning where it makes most sense – at home. Our message to all heating engineers is simple: secure your future by getting hands-on with the tech with installation yourself.”  

The offer for heating engineers across Britain follows a successful Nesta pilot, in partnership with the SNIPEF, which involved providing heat pumps and expert support to heating engineers in Scotland. The pilot found that 100% of the 18 participants who installed a heat pump reported increased understanding of system design and installation, with 72% of these describing the gain as substantial, citing improved technical fluency and troubleshooting skills. 61% of participants who installed a heat pump at home reported a large boost in confidence in the technology and in talking to customers about heat pumps (66%).  

Nesta is providing up to £2 million in funding to companies that supply the heat pumps. Normally, installation companies are not reimbursed right away when they provide a heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales or the Home Energy Scotland Grant. Nesta’s funding will act as a repayable financial buffer, covering costs of up to £500,000 per company, until these companies receive their reimbursement. 

The Start at Home schemes are available through the following partners:  

  • Start with Grant by Grant UK  
  • Start at Home by Renewables Centre 
  • Alto Assured Start at Home by Alto Energy Limited 
  • myVAILLIANT by Vaillant, in partnership with VitoEnergy and EcoFuture 
  • HISA by HISA Engineering Ltd 
  • HPIN+ by HPIN and EDF Heat Pumps 
  • ViStartathome by Viessmann