We thought a peer mentoring network would help newly trained heat pump installers gain the skills and confidence needed to install heat pumps. By connecting them with experienced heat pump installers we hoped they would learn from real-world jobs, improving their expertise through hands-on collaboration. Although the delivery of the pilot proved challenging, the project gave us a deeper knowledge of the support needs of newly trained installers and what role more experienced engineers could play in supporting the growth of the industry. It also provided insights about the constraints and opportunities within the UK heating industry, which will help us design new, suitable solutions to boost installer confidence.

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 saw installer peer mentoring networks as a potentially valuable complement to existing training, alongside our Start at Home schemes, and believed access to experienced installers could help new entrants approach their first few heat pump jobs with greater confidence. For experienced installers, mentoring could be an opportunity to develop their leadership skills, contribute to the growth of their own business as well as of the sector, and gain recognition for their expertise.

We knew 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 knew that installers are specifically seeking peer-to-peer connections with their industry colleagues and are benefiting from them.

Though heat pump training uptake is high, the gap between new installers' level of experience with heat pumps after training and what they need in practice is large. As a result, the sector may be losing potential talent by not offering additional pathways to help motivated heating professionals successfully incorporate heat pumps into their work portfolio.

First, we identified existing peer-to-peer models across sectors and mapped out key users. We then engaged with stakeholders in the heating industry (MCS, the HPA UK, manufacturers, training providers and installers) to evaluate existing needs and appetite, using early-stage concepts to guide our conversations. A key insight from this research was that peer mentoring already happens organically in the industry when engineers simply meet the right person at the right time. Our goal was to design a scheme to replicate and scale those natural connections.

We then moved to user testing, conducting interviews with heat pump installers and follow-up discussions with industry experts to quickly test three potential mentoring models. Using real-world scenarios, we checked the appeal, trust dynamics, and onboarding processes of joining a peer mentoring network. We selected a two-stage model: the mentee first observes the mentor's approach on a live project, and the roles then reverse, with the mentor providing focused support on the mentee's first solo installation. 

Next, we partnered with Green Economy and MCS to launch this model for heating engineers in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire in February 2026. This pilot had two core aims: to test the feasibility of managing a regional scheme, and to evaluate the impact of mentoring sessions on newly trained heat pump installers. To support the scheme, we launched a dedicated website and media pack for recruitment, securing  promotional support from 25 industry organisations, alongside materials to support in-person onboarding and early collaboration.

Despite our efforts, installer buy-in remained low after four weeks, attracting 13 businesses in total: five mentors and eight mentees. After filtering for eligibility and availability (targeting experienced, non-MCS certified micro-business engineers who had recently completed training and were motivated to take on their first solo heat pump job), we paired four mentees with three mentors. In line with our expectations, the mentees told us they saw in the scheme an opportunity to learn practical skills needed for heat pump installation, learning them first-hand from experienced installers. The mentors reported being driven by a desire to give back to the industry and the opportunity to link up with competent local subcontractors for future heat pump projects. 

However, translating these pairings into active mentoring sessions proved difficult due to real-world constraints and scheduling barriers: Other customer jobs ran over schedule, installation pipelines faced delays, and holiday conflicts disrupted momentum. At the close of the project, it has not been possible for any of those mentorship relationships to be put into action.

While a formal, structured network may face operational hurdles, the clear appetite for peer-to-peer support suggests there may be value in fostering these connections more organically, embedding mentoring opportunities into the existing fabric of the heating industry. We will continue to explore solutions in this space, as we believe peer mentoring has the potential to support the sector moving into heat pumps. 

We encourage industry stakeholders to leverage their daily touchpoints to seed these relationships: merchants can facilitate informal local networking at the trade counter, manufacturers can actively encourage peer-pairing during their training sessions, and organisations like the HPA can champion informal mentorship through their membership networks. By normalising and supporting these organic, right-place-at-the-right-time connections, the sector can collectively bridge the post-training confidence gap and build a resilient, collaborative workforce ready to drive the UK’s green heating transition.