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Grant UK partners with college to inspire nextgen heating engineers

Grant UK has joined the Careers Extra Programme of New College Swindon, a college based close to the Company’s Headquarters in Wiltshire.

Students listen to a training session at Grant UK training academy

Through this partnership, Grant UK hopes to further support students at the College who have an interest in the plumbing and heating sector.

In June 2023, a group of plumbing and heating students from New College Swindon visited Grant UK’s Training Academy to learn more about air source heat pumps. Since then, Grant UK has been working closely with the College to deliver additional training sessions to its students, while also providing equipment to its campus where the College delivers a broad range of academic qualifications. More recently, Grant UK became part of New College Swindon’s Careers Extra Programme.

The Careers Extra Programme provides students with the chance to attend careers events and networking opportunities while also opening up opportunities for work experience, industry placements and employer workshops. A number of local businesses support this initiative and as part of the programme, Grant UK will be opening its doors to students from the College, supporting their career pathways in the plumbing and heating sector.

In June this year, several more groups of students from the College visited the Grant UK Training Academy to attend tailored training sessions on heat pumps. Divided into theory and practical training, the training gave students the opportunity to learn about air source heat pumps, low temperature heating systems and heat pump installations. During the practical part of the sessions, the students were able to get their hands on the product to see the internal workings of a heat pump and its core accessories. Some of the students also attended a training session on solar thermal hot water systems.

Inspiring the next generation

“It was great seeing products at work that I have been taught about but not previously seen,” commented one student. “It was good seeing the inside of the heat pump units and Steve, the trainer, demonstrating all the components,” writes another. An apprentice from the College also shared their feedback, writing: “The topic about air source heat pumps was particularly interesting, giving me a wider understanding about how the units operate and work.”

“The relationship we have started to build with Grant UK will be invaluable to the College not only now but in the future,” comments Wayne Eggleton, Plumbing Lecturer at New College Swindon. “We are incredibly thankful to all of the Trainers who allowed our students to visit the Training Academy over a couple of weeks in early June. The initial feedback from students and staff that attended was great. We are also looking forward to installing Grant products at our premises over the next academic year.”

“It was good to welcome more students from New College Swindon to the Training Academy again recently,” writes Phil Stanley, Training Manager at Grant UK. “Alongside our delivery of product training and industry qualifications to engineers and installers, we are also keen to extend our training so that the next generation of heating engineers and plumbers can be equipped with new knowledge to support their personal development. We look forward to continuing to develop our partnership with New College Swindon and its students.”

Image provided by Grant UK