A new mobile heat pump facility has been launched in Scotland as part of a collaborative initiative between the Energy Saving Trust, Energy Skills Partnership (ESP), South Lanarkshire College and NIBE Energy Systems. Fully funded by the Scottish government, the training vehicle is designed to address training gaps in remote and rural areas where there isn’t college training provision.
The BPEC approved training and assessment centre will be a shared resource available to all Scottish colleges. Installers will be able to visit the centre to undergo training and certification on heat pumps, as well as obtain their Water Byelaws/Regulations and Domestic Vented and Unvented Hot Water Storage qualifications. When not in use for training, other organisations with a legitimate purpose will also be able to use the facility.
The Scottish government has stated that the availability of an inclusive, diverse and capable supply chain will be key to delivering on their ambition for the decarbonisation of heat in buildings. They estimate that an additional 16,400 jobs will be supported across the economy in 2030 as a result of investment in the deployment of zero emissions heat in new and existing buildings and it is hoped that this initiative will play a key part in achieving these objectives.
NIBE Energy Systems has provided the facility with some of its latest air source and ground source heat pumps so that installers can gain hands-on-experience with low carbon heating technologies. MD Phil Hurley comments:
“We’re so pleased to have been a part of this project. We have made it our mission at NIBE to do as much as we can to empower installers through removing barriers to training and unlocking opportunities. Heat pumps will play a key role in decarbonising homes and buildings in Scotland, and we can’t roll them out without installers.
“The availability of workers in the sector must increase to meet the demand for low carbon technology. Flexible training facilities like this will be fundamental in making sure they can access the skills and qualifications they need, and we’re honoured to have provided the facility with NIBE heat pumps so that they can get to grips with the technology as they learn.”
For more information, visit: Mobile heat pump training centre – Energy Saving Trust
