Boiler manufacturer Buderus unveiled its first UK training academy in West Thurrock on October 17 - the first of three centres scheduled to open its doors to trainees by February 1.
Buderus will share the use of the £500,000 centre with sister company Worcester Bosch, a domestic heating firm also owned by its parent company Bosch.

Although Buderus' entered the UK market only two years ago and this is the first UK training centre, Buderus has a 276 year history in heating manufacturing. It plans to learn from its German training centre model which has worked at Buderus training facilities around the world.

This is also the first time, Buderus has branched out of its HQ base in Worcester. In the past, Buderus has used its strong links with training colleges, providing them with boilers to practice on. It has also given on-site installation training and used its headquarters to help train its 330-strong team of service engineers.

The new West Thurrock centre will run 17 courses. These include ACS accredited courses - one five day course on commercial boilers and a three day domestic to commercial boiler conversion course. Focused training on Buderus products and solar panel installation training is also available.

The Buderus facility's team of three trainers is particularly proud of its new commercial ACS accredited assessment room, which is full of non-Buderus products to meet assessment criteria. The centre's commercial jewel is its brand new commercial product training room, filled with giant, gleaming Buderus boilers ready to be taken apart.

Trainer Kevin Daly said 'Colleges don't have the space to accomodate a boiler with a 400kw output. Here installers get the chance to train on large boilers, the kind of training they need for the real world'.

Buderus training manager Phil Bunce feels the facility's location is well-placed to attract London's installers and contractors. An invite-only open day for contractors and installers is planned for this November.

Buderus' second training centre will open in Worcester and a third in Bradford by the end of January.
In 2006, 250 installers were schooled by Buderus, this figure rose to 700 this year. In 2008, Phil Bunce plans to get 1,500 trained in the three new centres.

To book a course at the training facility call 01905 753183