The sole traders and businesses surveyed cited a lack of available staff as a top barrier to installing more heat pumps where there is demand for installations.
Nesta, the innovation charity, attracted 345 responses in what was one of the most comprehensive surveys of heat pump installers. It was co-devised with industry and run in partnership with heat pump training consultant, Nathan Gambling, and Emma Bohan of heat pump firm IMS Heat Pumps, between October and November 2023.
Nesta is now calling for a focus on improving college apprenticeships to address concerns about practical training, as well as additional finance to boost demand.
Survey results
A third of respondents (30%) said finding suitable additional staff was the biggest barrier to installing more heat pumps, after a lack of customer demand (41%).
Heat pump engineers who cited a lack of demand as an issue believe customers aren’t choosing to progress with installations either because of the general cost of heat pump installations, or because they’ve received a cheaper quote from other companies. This suggests that even with government-funded grants, additional finance schemes for heat pump installations are needed.
Recruitment is an even bigger issue for larger heat pump businesses. For those with six or more staff, 41% said that finding additional installers is the biggest barrier.
This barrier in recruitment is a particular challenge as many heat pump companies said they were looking to expand, with a large majority of respondents (81%) from firms with six or more staff, stating they were likely or very likely to employ new staff in the next 12 months.
While all heat pump business owners noted a need to boost their businesses’ skills in core areas like heat loss surveying (16%), administration (14%), heating system design (13%), plumbing (11%) and F-Gas training (11%), those with six or more staff also said they need candidates with broader skills to grow their business. Sales and marketing was the top skill desired overall and particularly by businesses with more staff, rising from 18% overall to 28% for companies with six or more staff.
Low confidence in apprentices
Smaller heat pump businesses – sole traders and company owners with one to five employees – had a much lower confidence in the level of training that graduates from apprenticeship schemes have, compared to larger heat pump company owners.
Two thirds of sole traders (60%) and company owners with one-to-five employees (66%) had no or very little confidence in the training of recent graduates from apprenticeships. In particular, they thought the training apprentices receive on practical heat pump installation and general plumbing skills needed improving.
Nesta’s previous research has suggested that around 37,000 installers might be needed by 2030 to deliver on the UK’s net zero commitments.
Improving apprenticeship courses
Oliver Zanetti, mission manager of sustainable future at Nesta, said: “Heat pump installers in Britain are getting on with the job of helping people decarbonise their homes. While political uncertainty has caused some disruption in the heat pump market, the UK has a committed and expert core heat pump installer workforce.
“Any policymaker that wants the UK to meet its net zero targets should be listening to what installers are actually saying and helping to grow the industry. We conducted the first survey of heat pump installers run in close collaboration with industry to understand the blockers and opportunities it faces. It’s clear that staff recruitment continues to be an issue for an industry that needs to expand to meet future demand. To recruit the next generation of installers, colleges and industry must work together to improve apprenticeship courses.”
Nathan Gambling, heat pump training consultant and host of BetaTalk podcast, said: “The report highlights the importance of Umbrella Schemes and BetaTeach will continue to observe how the different types of Umbrella Schemes can engender competence and support learning. The survey also drew attention to the fact that practical experience with heat pumps is important for employers wishing to take on new staff.
“The awarding bodies who issue heat pump qualifications are benefiting from government financial support towards training. Yet the training, with no on-site practical experience or assessment, does not offer employers what they need. Arguably, financial and business support should exist for competent employers wishing to mentor and train the gas engineers looking to transition into heat pumps.”
Emma Bohan, managing director of IMS Heat Pumps, said: “The survey results show an existing, dedicated workforce able to install more heat pumps now, if the awareness amongst the general public was raised. To be able to grow the existing installer base, the call is loud and clear – support better access to training channels that can deliver apprentices and upskilled engineers with quality hands-on experience.
“These two key learnings, combined with a request for staff and digital tools to assist with administration and a reduction in the overall burden of paperwork for installers and we will see a heating industry that is fully equipped to help people move from fossil fuel heating to heat pumps.”
Image credit: Nesta