• Heating engineers get free heat pumps in first-of-its-kind trial
• Participants report increased confidence in the technology
• Nesta launches major project to scale the model - aims to recruit 5,000 heating engineers in the first 12 months

London, UK – Providing heating engineers with free heat pumps and training to install them in their own homes increases confidence, technical knowledge, and the willingness of installers to embrace low-carbon technologies, according to the results of a study published today by Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation.

Nesta, in partnership with Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF), recruited 36 experienced heating engineers across Scotland to participate in a first-of-its-kind pilot called ‘Start at Home’. There were two groups of engineers in the trial, one which received training on heat pump installation and the other which received both training and a free heat pump to install in their own homes.

All of the 18 participants who installed a heat pump in their own home reported an increase in their understanding of heat pump system design and installation, with 13 out of 18 describing it as a substantial gain. After installing a heat pump in their own home, 11 of 18 participants reported a significant increase in their confidence in heat pumps as a home heating technology - One heating engineer, who employs around 9 people, said: "Now that I can see it working and see it heating the house, I can confidently say that they do work”.

Living with heat pumps in their own homes also provided far more confidence and insight to advise customers. One engineer said: “As we've lived with it, I would know the issues that the customer has because I've probably already had them and I know how to solve them now".

The ‘Start at Home’ project aims to address a significant barrier in the UK’s efforts to shift from gas to low carbon heating like heat pumps. While a growing number of heating engineers are completing heat pump training, this has not yet translated into a large, active workforce of heat pump installers.

Currently heating engineers who complete training on heat pump installation struggle to get their first ‘real world’ customer. A DESNZ survey found that only 27% of newly trained installers completed a heat pump installation within a year, partly due to demand but also other issues such as confidence in the technology and the relevant accreditation. Offering a free installation to engineers in their own home will greatly increase engineers’ confidence in the installation of the technology and gives them the option to seek MCS accreditation.

The Climate Change Committee projects that we need to install around 450,000 heat pumps in existing homes per year by 2030. To do this, we'll need roughly 38,000 more installers trained and confident to install heat pumps before 2030.

Today, Nesta launched phase two of ‘Start at Home’, which seeks to scale the model across Britain by signing up 5,000 heating engineers in the first 12 months, each of whom will receive expert support and a free heat pump to install in their own home.

The heat pumps are funded through existing grants and the schemes will be operated by manufacturers and umbrella schemes, including the Heat Pump Installer Network, Vaillant in partnership with VitoEnergy and EcoFuture, and HISA.

Nesta is working to add more partners to scale up capacity and is exploring ways to ‘crowd in’ more funding to help partners bridge the period between purchasing a heat pump for an installer and the rebate from government grants. Nesta will be supporting partners to reach installers through a nationwide campaign, evaluating impact and sharing learning with industry and governments.

Benoit Siberdt is a Senior Analyst at Nesta and led the Start at Home project. He said: “Giving heating engineers a free heat pump translated to more confidence in the technology and more credibility with customers. We think by scaling this nationally we can smash a big barrier to growing the heat pump installer workforce. We want plumbers and boiler installers to become advocates for heat pumps and we increase our chances of that if they trust the technology”

Fiona Hodgson is Chief Executive of the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF). She said: "Start at Home has shown the transformative effect of combining training with real, hands-on experience. Supporting installers to fit heat pumps in their own homes not only significantly improves installation competency, system design understanding and operational insight, but also boosts confidence and credibility in the technology. Looking ahead, this scalable model offers a clear pathway to rapidly grow a technically proficient workforce capable of delivering high-quality heat pump installations and driving forward the UK’s low carbon heating transition."

Ryan Beattie is Director of Thermatek Heating and was part of the pilot. He said: "The project has been invaluable to both my business and to me personally. The route to becoming registered to install heat pumps is not always easy. The project has created a pathway through a confusing landscape. I have just in the last week received my MCS number. I’m now officially a registered heat pump installer and can offer government funding on our installs. We have two customers already in the quote stage and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

From today engineers can visit startathome.org.uk to sign up for a scheme.

Notes to editors

1. The Start at Home report (on the pilot is available here)
2. For more information on the project or to speak to one of the experts involved, please contact Mark Byrne, on 07745 234 909 or [email protected]. Spokespeople are available for broadcast interviews.

About Nesta

Nesta is an independent think tank focused on solving society’s biggest challenges.

Nesta conducts experiments with public and private organisations, builds and invests in early-stage ventures, and shapes policy.

Our three missions are to give every child a fair start, help people live healthy lives, and create a sustainable future where the economy works for both people and the planet.

For over 20 years, Nesta has worked to support, encourage and inspire innovation. Harnessing the rigour of science and the creativity of design, we design, test and scale solutions to change millions of lives for the better. Find out more at nesta.org.uk