The funding will enable heating technicians to undertake training on air source heat pumps and the design of heat pump heating systems at greatly reduced cost, through OFTEC’s network of approved training centres.
OFTEC is one of a number of organisations to have been awarded funding to deliver training programmes to boost the number of heat pump installers. Funding is also being made available through the competition for training skilled retrofit and energy efficiency installers.
The funding available through the competition, which is worth £9.2m in total, is specifically targeted at small to medium sized businesses because these make up the backbone of the heating and building trades. The competition is designed to boost the number of installers able to install technologies needed to enable homes to be net zero ready.
Welcoming the news, David Knipe training manager at OFTEC, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been successful in this competition. For small businesses moving into renewables, the cost of training can be a significant barrier, so initiatives such as this are extremely welcome.”
Mr Knipe continued: “Building the number of skilled installers will be essential if we are to achieve our decarbonisation objectives. We hope this funding will enable many more to undertake training through our network of centres, which will make them eligible to join the microgeneration certification scheme (MCS) and support the deployment of heat pumps, a key low carbon heating technology.”
The funding will only be available for training centres and technicians based in England. The details of the scheme are still being finalised, however, it is expected the subsidised training will be available from the beginning of 2023.
OFTEC has recently rolled out new training and assessments in air source heat pumps and the design of heat pump heating systems. These are run in compliance with the requirements of ISO 17024, like the existing OFTEC courses, and are supported by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
Anyone interested in the subsidised training should look out for further announcements or contact their local training centre.