- The pilot from Nesta offered engineers a free heat pump for their homes
- The pilot found an increased confidence in installing heat pump and knowing how they work
- The transition from training to real-world installation is a huge barrier for heat pump engineers
Innovation agency Nesta has reported that its ‘Start at Home’ pilot project has helped to improve heating engineers’ technical understanding of heat pumps and encouraged some to qualify as heat pump installers, in a move that should bolster the clean technology workforce and help the government achieve its net-zero ambitions.
Launched earlier this year, the project, which offered gas engineers their own heat pump for free, is designed to help increase the number of heat pump installers in the UK, something that will be critical for the government to meet its target to cut carbon emissions and become energy independent.
A spokesperson for Nesta said that while the number of heating professionals completing heat pump training is growing, more than 9,000 in 2024, many still face a significant barrier: The transition from training to real-world installation.
The ‘Start at Home’ project, in partnership with the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation, aims to bridge this gap by allowing newly trained installers to fit an air-source heat pump in their own home.
This provides them with practical experience in a low-risk environment and helps them become more confident when entering the market, the spokesperson said.
In its latest report, Nesta found that:
- Hands-on home installation boosted installers’ confidence and technical knowledge. After installing a heat pump in their own home, all participants reported increased confidence and deeper technical understanding, particularly in areas, such as system design, heat loss calculation and commissioning.
- Day-to-day use at home increased understanding of heat pump systems. Living with the system provided valuable opportunities for continuous learning. This allowed participants to monitor performance, optimise efficiency, and gain insights into user experience – knowledge they can apply and share with their customers.
- Home installations and umbrella organisations supported paths to MCS certification. Around half of the participants who installed a heat pump system at home are exploring gaining their own certification. For these installers, the home installation will serve as credible evidence of their technical competency.
- Lived experience led to greater confidence in promoting heat pumps to customers. Lived with experience with a heat pump strengthened participants’ ability to promote the technology. Installers reported greater confidence when discussing heat pumps with customers, backed with first-hand insights and added credibility.
Nesta’s call for other organisations to launch a similar scheme
Nesta is now calling other organisations to launch and run their own Start at Home schemes, so as many engineers as possible across the UK can be supported with the transition to low-carbon heating.
The spokesperson said it will be talking to a range of organisations, from manufacturers and MCS umbrella schemes to trade associations and local initiative, to support them to launch schemes of their own.
“We’ll also be helping scheme providers with promoting their Start at Home offers. We’ll be listing all available schemes on our website and promoting it to heating engineers across the UK, helping them find a route into heat pump installations that’s right for them,” the spokesperson said.
“We’ll also be evaluating the impact of these independently administered schemes, so we can build on the results of our pilot.”
If you’re interested in running a Start at Home scheme, contact startathome@nesta.org.uk or visit the Start at Home website.
