A new training facility has been opened by Zehnder in Camberley, Surrey, which offers a number of practical courses aimed at addressing the increasing skills gap in the HVAC sector. The new Academy contains a simulated indoor environment, in the form of a working apartment, with fully operational heating, cooling and ventilation units for testing and experimentation.
In addition, trainees will be able to practice their skills on a Posi-Joist ‘rig’ – designed with partner MiTek – for design, ducting and connector training. Also on display will be the latest examples of Zehnder’s latest equipment for live demos and hands-on training in maintenance, servicing and commissioning, and a classroom-style learning space for lectures and visual learning. There will also be online training modules for extended theory.
The practical and academic training modules will span all elements of the design, install, commissioning and maintenance process, helping to ensure that HVAC systems are installed with a systems-first mindset to strike the balance between meeting the energy-efficient and air-tight requirements of the forthcoming Future Homes Standard, while keeping indoor environments healthy and comfortable for their inhabitants.
Stuart Smith, Zehnder Group UK Commercial Director, comments: “While the UK boasts some of the best specialist mechanical and electrical (M&E) contractors, without a national qualification, there are simply not enough who are ventilation qualified and can do the job. This is resulting in uncompetitive quotes, shortcuts being taken, and a worryingly high number of poor installations being seen – and so the cycle continues.
“We know that in the UK there are still untrained tradespeople installing and commissioning ventilation systems with little or no knowledge. Once installed, many of these MVHR systems are left unmaintained and/or not serviced, leading to further issues down the line. That’s not a criticism. It’s a sign of a bigger problem – a systemic skills gap that’s holding our industry back. This investment by Zehnder is an effort to upskill our workforce and tackle the issue.”
Ventilation systems have evolved into sophisticated pieces of technology, with digital controls, sensors, zoning, smart integration. They require careful design, expert installation and precise commissioning – and when it’s not done right, the consequences are serious.
Smith adds, “we’re seeing tradespeople from all disciplines; plumbers, electricians, pipefitters, trying to install ventilation to save time or budget and it’s putting people’s lives at risk. It’s not through fault or laziness, but because there simply aren’t enough qualified ventilation specialists out there. That’s the cycle we need to break.”
Once the academy is in full swing, Zehnder’s ambition is to build up a nationwide network of Zehnder Approved Partners – engineers qualified to install and maintain its products to ensure higher quality, consistency and confidence for its customers.
“We can’t wait for a national solution,” continues Smith. “The progress towards a national competency framework is slow and focused mainly on residential applications. That’s why we decided to take matters into our own hands.”
Zehnder says its Academy is a place where learning meets practice and where theory meets technology. A space that bridges the gap between product innovation and field expertise, ensuring that every installation delivers on performance, efficiency and indoor climate comfort. Smith concludes, “The Zehnder Academy will turn knowledge into confidence, and confidence into competence, .”
Industry professionals that want to sign up for courses at the Zehnder Academy can do so now using Zehnder’s Training Academy Portal. Visit Zehnder Academy | Zehnder Group UK Ltd for more information and booking.
