We know from installers that the first few installs are often the hardest and that while training provides useful insights it does not cover every bit of theoretical and practical knowledge they need. We see installer peer mentoring networks as a valuable complement to existing training, and believe access to experienced installers can help new entrants approach their first few heat pump jobs with greater confidence. For experienced installers, mentoring provides an opportunity to develop their leadership skills, contribute to the growth of the sector, and gain recognition for their expertise.

We know from our heat pump installer survey that peer-to-peer networks are hugely valuable to installers and many would like even greater contact with their peers, as shown in Figure 1. We also know that installers are specifically seeking peer-to-peer connections with their industry colleagues and are benefiting from them.

This project is test if installer peer mentoring networks can provide support to new installers as well as encourage knowledge and skills transfer between peers.

The goal of this project is to help newly trained heat pump installers gain the skills and confidence needed to install heat pumps. By connecting them with experienced heat pump installers they can learn from real-world jobs, improving their expertise through hands-on collaboration. This support system will accelerate their transition into active delivery of installations, increasing the number of skilled heat pump installers. Ultimately, this will help grow the industry, improve the quality of installations, and support the wider adoption of heat pump technology in the UK.

Through this project, we aim to connect installers with peer mentors in the industry, helping them transition to heat pump installations with greater confidence.

Though heat pump training take up is high, this doesn’t seem to be translating into growth in active heat pump installer numbers. While many heating engineers are interested and motivated to move into working with heat pumps, the gap between their level of experience with heat pumps after training and what they need in practice is too great. As a result, the sector is losing potential talent by not offering effective pathways to help motivated heating professionals successfully incorporate heat pumps into their work portfolio.

If the UK is to meet its current net-zero goals, the low-carbon heating industry must expand. To achieve this growth, we need about 27,000 new heat pump installers by 2028. Helping plumbers and heating professionals move swiftly into active delivery of heat pump installations is the quickest way to ensure the sector has the skilled engineers needed to transition the UK’s heating system away from gas.

In addressing the challenges faced by heating engineers new to heat pumps, this project occupies a similar space to our Start at home project, in which newly trained installers are offered an air-source heat pump to install in their own home after they complete their training.

Having reviewed existing research on peer mentoring support and gathering insights from stakeholders about past and current initiatives in the heating sector, we are piloting a peer mentoring network.

This will take place in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire with our partners Green Economy and MCS and will test assumptions and assess the feasibility of the scheme, thereby ensuring we develop a solution that truly works for the industry. If successful, we will look at ways to scale this scheme to more heating engineers in the sector.

Alongside running the project, we have put together a scaling group to bring together organisations in the industry and local and combined authorities interested in seeing a peer mentorship scheme for heat pump installers come to life. Feel free to get in touch directly if you’d like to join.

If you’re a heating engineer, new to the sector or experienced, based in Greater Manchester or West Yorkshire, and interested in the peer mentoring network, you can find more information on our dedicated website. Alternatively, we can get in touch with us directly at [email protected]