The initiative aims to bolster the UK's workforce in the growing heat network sector, which is essential for achieving net-zero emissions targets.
A total of £13 million has been announced across the three schemes, and the funding has been awarded through Midland Net Zero Hub on behalf of the Department of Energy, Security & Net Zero (DESNZ). Having worked with the Hub for the last three years on a range of schemes, GTEC will be able to continue to help installers who want to upskill.
Heat Network Funding
Heat networks are set to play an important role in the UK’s transition to Net Zero. Plans to increase their share of the heat market from under 3% today to 20% by 2050 show clear support for this technology from the department, which has allocated £2 million to train the sector.
To help installers, facilities managers (FMs), specifiers, and others in building services and related sectors understand and take advantage of this growing sector, GTEC Training, part of the United Living Group, will seek funding to continue helping installers enter this exciting sector.
Heat Pump Training Grant
Funding for heat pump training, totaling £3 million, has also been announced through the Midland Net Zero Hub. As a successful partner on previous schemes, GTEC and its UK partners will continue to help heating engineers who want to upskill and will be able to offer the £500 discount immediately.
Warm Homes Skills Program
There has also been an announcement of an 8 million program to deliver up to 9,000 training places to enable people to develop skills covering an introduction to retrofit, retrofit assessments, and installation of specific measures, including insulation, but also notably Solar PV. This will be the first time that solar training has been funded in this way to support the mass deployment of this established technology.
Vlad Nedelcu, COO of United Living Property Services, said, "The government's investment through the Warm Homes Program is a transformative step towards eradicating fuel poverty and enhancing the quality of life for residents in social housing. At United Living, we are committed to delivering net-zero retrofits that reduce carbon emissions and create healthier, more energy-efficient homes.
This funding empowers us to grow our workforce to continue our mission of regenerating communities and improving lives, ensuring every resident can enjoy a warm and comfortable home and our unique partnership with GTEC Training means we’re in the best place to ensure our installers get the best-in-class training to help us meet these targets.”
