The new cutting-edge Zehnder Academy, created by indoor climate solutions company Zehnder Group UK, aims to usher in a new chapter of industry-wide training excellence and to address the increasing skills gap in the HVAC sector - tackling the large number of poor installs currently being seen across the country.
Drawing inspiration from Zehnder’s illustrious 125-year history of innovation, the industry-leading facility, at Zehnder Group UK’s headquarters in Camberley, Surrey, has been meticulously designed to offer a flagship training experience at every level.
The new Academy contains a simulated indoor environment, in the form of a working apartment, with fully operational heating, cooling and ventilation units for testing and experimentation.
In addition, the Academy features a Posi-Joist ‘rig’ – designed with partner MiTek – for design, ducting and connector training. Also on display will be the latest examples of Zehnder’s innovative equipment for live demos and hands-on training in maintenance, servicing and commissioning, and a classroom-style learning space for lectures and visual learning. There will also be online training modules for extended theory.
The practical and academic training modules will span all elements of the Design, Install, Commissioning and Maintenance process, which tracks to the Future Homes Standard legislation coming into effect from December 2026. Equipping trainees with a gold standard of training across all four areas ensures HVAC systems are installed with a systems-first mindset to strike the balance between meeting the energy-efficient and air-tight requirements of the Future Homes Standard, while keeping indoor environments healthy and comfortable for their inhabitants.
Poor ventilation installations can have serious detrimental effects on a building’s fabric. They can cause condensation issues that can lead to toxic black mould, excessive use of energy that drives up the running costs of a building and, most alarmingly, pose a health risk for the occupants inside through poor indoor air quality – well known to affect wellbeing and lead to serious illnesses and respiratory diseases.
Zehnder Group UK commercial director, Stuart Smith, says: “while the UK boasts some of the best specialist mechanical and electrical (M&E) contractors, without a national qualification, there are simply not enough who are ventilation qualified and can do the job. This is resulting in uncompetitive quotes, shortcuts being taken, and a worryingly high number of poor installations being seen - and so the cycle continues.
“We know that in the UK there are still untrained tradespeople installing and commissioning ventilation systems with little or no knowledge. Once installed, many of these MVHR systems are left unmaintained and/or not serviced, leading to further issues down the line. That’s not a criticism. It’s a sign of a bigger problem - a systemic skills gap that’s holding our industry back. This investment by Zehnder is an effort to upskill our workforce and tackle the issue.”
From the outset, the new Zehnder Academy will be dedicated to delivering a modern approach to training and professional development to raise standards across the industry. Inside the facility, trainees will have access to live demonstration zones, a wide array of academic training modules, and interactive test environments to give them the practical, hands-on experience they need to excel throughout their careers – from apprentices and trainees to experienced contractors, installers and facilities teams that need to refresh their knowledge of technological advancements, servicing, and building regulation changes.
Ventilation systems have evolved into sophisticated pieces of technology, with digital controls, sensors, zoning, smart integration. They require careful design, expert installation and precise commissioning - and when it’s not done right, the consequences are serious. Smith adds, “we’re seeing tradespeople from all disciplines; plumbers, electricians, pipefitters, trying to install ventilation to save time or budget and it’s putting people’s lives at risk. It’s not through fault or laziness, but because there simply aren’t enough qualified ventilation specialists out there. That’s the cycle we need to break.”
Addressing this issue requires industry-wide collaboration, with high-quality, accessible training sitting at the forefront. Once the academy is in full swing, Zehnder’s ambition is to build up a nationwide network of Zehnder Approved Partners - engineers qualified to install and maintain its products to ensure higher quality, consistency, and confidence for its customers.
“We can’t wait for a national solution,” continues Smith. “The progress towards a national competency framework is slow and focused mainly on residential applications. That’s why we decided to take matters into our own hands.”
Zehnder says its Academy is a place where learning meets practice and where theory meets technology. A space that bridges the gap between product innovation and field expertise, ensuring that every installation delivers on performance, efficiency, and indoor climate comfort. Smith concludes, “The Zehnder Academy will turn knowledge into confidence, and confidence into competence, so that every system that is installed performs to its full potential.”
Looking ahead, the Zehnder Academy will shape the long-term future of the industry. By supporting the development of a highly skilled workforce and building a nationwide network of qualified partners, Zehnder is helping to ensure better outcomes for buildings, occupants, and the wider environment. It is an investment not just in today’s training needs, but in the quality, resilience, and success of the HVAC sector for years to come.
Recognised worldwide as a leader in indoor environment quality expertise, the opening of its UK Academy will further cement Zehnder’s role in helping to create a better and more sustainable HVAC industry across the globe. This facility is the 11th across Europe of its kind and Zehnder Group plans to launch more to establish a gold standard of training excellence globally, ensuring the future workforce are equipped with the skills they need not only to succeed, but to excel.