UK heat pump training surges despite barriers to upskilling

  Posted by: electime      2nd October 2025

New research shows how plumbers and heating installers across the UK are stepping up to meet the demand for low-carbon heating, but regional disparities remain.

Across the UK, 58 per cent of professionals have already trained or upskilled in heat pumps, with a further 34 per cent planning to do so within the next 12 months, according to findings in City Plumbing’s new Taking the Temperature report. Only 8 per cent say they have not been trained and do not plan to train in heat pumps.

Confidence in the heat pump market is growing, with installers citing expected customer demand (37 per cent), the chance to gain a competitive advantage (34 per cent) and personal interest in renewable technologies (38 per cent) as key motivators for training. Practical enablers also matter, with 30 per cent saying they trained because it was convenient to access and 28 per cent were encouraged or funded by their employer.

However, there remain some barriers to upskilling in renewables. Some respondents cited the cost (28 per cent), lack of local offering (24 per cent), difficulty in taking time off work (24 per cent), not enough customer demand (24 per cent) and too much competition (20 per cent) as reasons against training in renewables. A fifth (20 per cent) said they haven’t trained or plan to train as they will retire soon.

Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of respondents said there are still not enough qualified heat pump installers to meet demand – raising concerns about meeting the Government’s target of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028. Alongside this, 85 per cent agree that there needs to be more financial support to help people train or upskill in renewables.

Exploring the research in more detail, several regions are leading the way, with Wales (75 per cent), the East Midlands (74 per cent) and both the North West and Scotland (72 per cent) reporting the highest levels of trained installers. The South West also performs strongly at 68 per cent, giving these areas a robust workforce to meet current demand.

Northern Ireland, despite having the lowest training uptake today (21 per cent), shows the highest growth potential – with more than seven in ten professionals (71 per cent) planning to upskill in the next 12 months. The North East (56 per cent), East of England (47 per cent) and Greater London (39 per cent) also report significant pipelines of planned training, indicating that these areas could quickly close the gap with more mature markets.

Hemal Morjaria, Managing Director – Heating & Renewables at City Plumbing, part of the Highbourne Group, said: “Our research shows clear progress on heat pump training, but some disparities between the regions. Although it’s positive to see so many upskilling, it’s important that we continue to support installers – especially sole traders and small businesses – with affordable and accessible training to future-proof the industry, which plays an essential part in the UK’s net zero ambitions.

“City Plumbing continues to invest heavily in this area. Our partnership with GTEC Training, two centres of excellence, mobile training rigs, and our heat pump umbrella scheme with VitoEnergy are helping hundreds of installers upskill and access government grants, creating a more resilient and future-ready workforce. Since 2023, City Plumbing has supported more than 650 installers through accredited training in heat pumps, with further training dates and incentives planned for 2025 and beyond as demand continues to rise.”

The heat pump training costs £660, but with the £500 Heat Training Grant and a £160 City Plumbing credit for a future heat pump purchase following completion of the course, it becomes effectively free. The next available dates are:

• Bedford 13th October
• Aylesford 14th October
• Farnborough 14th October
• Farnborough 28th October

City Plumbing surveyed 500 plumbers and heating installers across the UK to find out industry trends, opportunities and threats, which are outlined in its new Taking the Temperature report.