Government-backed programme helping thousands retrain for growing clean heating sector
.Nearly all installers who have completed training through the Government’s Heat Training Grant are satisfied with the experience, according to new research that highlights growing confidence in the UK’s expanding clean heating workforce.
A mid-programme review found that 94% of surveyed installers described themselves as either “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the training they received. Meanwhile, 95% said they had already recommended, or would be likely to recommend, the courses to colleagues and friends.
The findings were published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 4 June and underline the impact of a scheme designed to accelerate the transition to low-carbon heating technologies.
Backed by £7 million in annual government funding, the Heat Training Grant provides up to £500 towards the cost of qualifying as a heat pump installer or heat network professional. The support can significantly reduce training costs and, in some cases, make courses free.
Since its launch, the programme has funded more than 11,300 training courses, helping experienced heating engineers develop skills in low-carbon systems as demand for clean heating solutions continues to grow.
To mark the publication of the research, Energy Consumers Minister Martin McCluskey visited Daikin’s training academy in Manchester, where he met apprentices and installers benefiting from the programme. Around 3,000 installers have received training through Daikin this year alone. Photo by Tom Morris, Wikimedia commons.
Minister for Energy Consumers, Martin McCluskey, said:
“Meeting the next generation of heat pump installers at Daikin’s cutting-edge training academy in Manchester has brought home that the clean energy jobs of the future are happening right now.
The trainees and instructors here, and across the country, are on the frontline of getting Britain off the fossil fuel rollercoaster, with over 11,300 heat pump training courses already delivered to upskill engineers and installers.
Research today shows the scheme has been massively popular with those taking it on. With the opportunity for £500 off the cost of training, there has never been a better time to become a heat pump installer and learn the new skills powering the UK with clean energy”.
Daniel Jackson, Training Manager at Daikin UK, said:
“The Heat Training Grant is playing an important role in accelerating the upskilling of the heating workforce.
At Daikin, we’ve already helped hundreds of installers access grant-funded training and are seeing growing interest from engineers looking to diversify into low-carbon technologies. Investments in skills are critical to ensuring consumers across the UK can benefit from the transition to cleaner heating, while also supporting regional jobs and economic growth”.
The programme forms part of the Government’s wider Warm Homes Plan, which has committed funding for the Heat Training Grant through to 2029. Ministers say the initiative will contribute to creating an additional 180,000 jobs in energy efficiency and clean heating by the end of the decade.
Demand for heat pumps continues to rise. According to Heat Pump Association figures, more than 110,000 heat pumps were sold across the UK in 2025, making it a record year for the technology. Applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme also increased by 36%, while more than 60,000 MCS-certified heat pump installations were completed—the highest annual total on record.
The Warm Homes Plan, supported by £15 billion in funding, will also provide low- and zero-interest loans for households installing heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage systems, as the Government seeks to expand access
