Heat Pumps Today

Info www.theBESA.com www.acrjournal.uk/heat-pumps 27 T R A I N I N G heat pumps, if we can scale up the training to expand the skilled workforce – and overcome some of the current industry’s reluctance. Network We are facing a race against time to keep the decarbonisation of UK heating on track, which is why we have adapted BESA’s approach. For example, ‘training the trainers’ was a key element of BESA’s successful application for additional funding as we can help to extend the network of Further Education colleges and independent training centres able to deliver heat pump courses. So far this includes Hartlepool College of Further Education, Leicester College, Choice Training in Dagenham, and EAS Mechanical Ltd of Northampton, but the additional funding will allow us to extend the network and support more skilled trainers to deliver meaningful, practical training so heat pump technology performs to its full potential. The hands-on practicality of the course and the final assessment process we have developed with Worcester Bosch was another element appreciated by the government. Upskilling to become a heat pump installer is a great way to future-proof your business while helping homeowners and businesses reduce their energy bills and contribute to our long-term battle against climate change. As MCS certification is now more widely recognised as the industry standard, it is important that installers are also helped to navigate their way through the system as part of their training so they can quickly start applying their skills in the marketplace. Training should also help installers explain the various options to homeowners and commercial building customers which is a good way to gain a reputation as a knowledgeable and trustworthy business while also plugging part of that knowledge gap that is holding back consumer confidence. A heat pump combines elements of air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating and requires the engineer to have wider expertise in improving the building fabric so is ideally suited to sit at the heart of a wider decarbonisation strategy. Heat pump technology can, therefore, be the launchpad for a new generation of low carbon ‘retrofit engineers’ trained to take a holistic approach to building services and the decarbonisation of complete buildings. To register your interest in BESA’s heat pump training visit: www.thebesa.com/besa-academy.