Madeleine Gabriel, director of Sustainable Future at Nesta, has explained that the heating sector needs to get “hands-on” to close the heat pump skills gap.
Recent reporting by BBC News has underlined the scale and urgency of the UK’s home energy challenge, as developers from 2028 will be required to install heat pumps in all new homes in England as part of updated planning requirement published by the government. But while it is promising to see this policy ambition is accelerating, delivery on the ground is struggling to keep pace and will only succeed if there are enough skilled workers to carry it out
The answer lies in addressing the urgent skills gap. While thousands of engineers are being trained to install heat pumps, 27% of newly qualified installers go on to complete an installation within a year of receiving training. That’s not due to a lack of motivation or consumer demand, but of confidence and experience. Engineers need more than classroom knowledge, they need hands-on practice and the assurance that they can deliver high-quality installations in real-world conditions.
This is where initiatives like Nesta’s Start at Home programme come in. By enabling heating engineers to install a government-funded heat pump in their own homes, our programme is designed to build confidence and help develop practical skills.
In our recent pilot, in partnership with the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation, we provided heat pumps to heating engineers across Scotland. All of the participating engineers reported improved understanding of system design and installation, and 61% experienced a large boost in confidence in the technology and in talking to customers about it.
The reason for this is simple: if you want engineers to feel confident installing heat pumps for others, let them start by installing one in their own homes. This approach not only builds technical fluency but also gives installers a personal stake in the technology. They experience the benefits first-hand, understand the challenges and teething issues involved in the installation process intimately, and become more effective advocates for heat pumps among their customers and in their communities.
As the government made clear with the recent announcement of its “clean energy superpower” strategy, job creation and a more confident, skilled workforce will not only help us meet our climate targets but also drive long-term economic growth and competitiveness.
This strategy will rely heavily on the government’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan, which aims to create over 400,000 new green jobs by 2030. Thousands of new jobs will likely be created in the heating sector alone, from installation and maintenance to manufacturing and support services. Communities across the UK stand to benefit from cleaner air and lower bills to greater energy security and resilience.
The heating sector doesn’t need to wait for change, it can start at home. We want the industry to grasp this opportunity and ensure that every engineer has the tools, experience, and confidence to deliver the future of heating. With winter approaching, consumer interest rising, and government funding available, the time to act is now.
By bridging the skills gap, we can make the heating sector one that works for everyone – creating more jobs, cutting carbon, and making homes warmer and more affordable.