New figures from the Heat Pump Association show a 166% increase in the number of qualified heat pump installers, from just under 3,000 in 2022 to close to 8,000 in 2023.
This increase brings the total number of heat pump installers qualified in the last 2 years to just shy of 11,000 individuals.
Although the data can’t identify whether the qualified individuals are currently working within the sector, the HPA says this growth highlights the growing interest and investment in heat pumps within the UK.
According to HPA’s projections, the UK needs the equivalent of 33,700 full time employed heat pump installers to support the transition to clean heating systems in line with government ambitions, and these figures show good progress is being made.
Many of these 11,000 individuals will have received grants from various government schemes including the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Competition, skills bootcamps and the current Heat Training Grant. With the Heat Training Grant able to support around 6,000 additional heat pump trainees in England over the next 13 months, the HPA expects this upward trend to continue in 2024.
Welcoming the news, OFTEC training manager David Knipe comments: “Ensuring that homeowners get heat pump installations they can trust is essential if consumers are to have the confidence to invest in low carbon heating. OFTEC is at the forefront of supporting this goal and our new suite of heat pump courses have been extremely popular in the last year, with over 1,330 heating technicians undertaking training.”
Mark Krull, director at LCL Awards adds: “It is encouraging to see that the heating industry within the UK has risen to meet the challenge and those who see the future with heat Pumps are actively seeking to develop and extend their knowledge through training and undertaking qualifications which the HPA has been leading the industry on. This is an ongoing challenge and I am sure more installers will continue to grow their skills and knowledge and help the UK meet its Net Zero Targets.”
Neil Collishaw, CEO at BPEC says: “This is very encouraging news. BPEC is proud to have been a trailblazer in this field having offered heat pump and other renewable training courses/qualifications to the plumbing and heating industry for over a decade. We will continue to work closely with the HPA to promote upskilling opportunities to meet the skills needs for the future which is central to our core mission.”
