Polypipe is removing the registration fee previously required to join its RHEN.
All fees paid in will also be returned in full to the existing members of the Network as a thank you for their support in previous years.
Polypipe launched the RHEN in 2016, then known as the Registered Installer Network, offering heating and plumbing specialists the chance to work with Polypipe to identify new business opportunities in their locality, attend accredited training courses hosted by the company, and receive a range of business support tools.
Polypipe has been reviewing the feedback from those who signed up, as well as conducting insight research with the wider plumbing and heating engineer sector, and has decided to make key changes to better serve the industry.
The first change is to remove the initial £350 registration fee to encourage more small businesses and start-ups to consider registering and working with Polypipe. Existing members should contact their Area Heating Manager to arrange and confirm return of fees.
The criteria for joining the RHEN will continue to be merit-based, focusing on the experience, qualifications and accreditations of the individual heating engineer. There are now no extra fees required to register.
The second change comes in response to research showing that the majority (66 percent) of individuals working in the sector considered themselves to be heating engineers or plumbers rather than installers. Therefore for 2018 Polypipe will rebrand its network as the Registered Heating Engineer Network, in order to better represent the skills of the existing members, and to attract a wider range of more experienced and qualified professionals.
Rachel Smith, general manager at Polypipe Underfloor Heating said: “We hope this is welcome news for our existing RHEN members and those who have been considering registering with Polypipe. Our partnership with heating engineers is founded on the skills, expertise and professionalism within the plumbing and heating sector and we want to support that in the best way possible.
“There is going to be a skills shortage within the sector so it is important that companies such as Polypipe do all they can to support the small businesses and sole traders, providing the highest quality service to their customers.
“At Polypipe, we recognise the important role heating engineers play for their customers and that repeat business is a key part of the job. By making the RHEN free to join we want to open our training courses and aftercare business support to a wider demographic of professionals, helping them to achieve their business goals in 2018 by offering new services to their customers.”