The new year has got off to a great start with the launch of the Heat Pump Installer Training & Support Scheme (HITSS) on 12 January 2023.

The scheme provides discounted training to skill up the heat pump workforce, funded by the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Installers can apply for vouchers to cover up to 70% of the cost of heat pump training and associated qualifications, which can be redeemed on LCL Awards qualifications at training centres throughout England.

A typical package is worth around £500 per candidate but all training must be completed by 31 March 2023. Installers can apply for funding at https://www.hitss.co.uk/

What qualifications does HITSS cover?

HITSS focusses exclusively on training existing heating engineers to work on heat pumps – a technology that will be the predominant heating source for new builds from 2025 and meet heating and hot water demand in 19 million homes by 2050.

The following heat pump qualifications are covered by the scheme (as required):

• LCL Awards Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Air Source Heat Pump Systems (non-refrigerant circuits) 
• LCL Awards Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Ground Source Heat Pump Systems (non-refrigerant circuits)
• LCL Awards Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Heat Pump Systems (non-refrigerant circuits)

HITSS also covers the following qualifications, courses and certificates, which are pre-requisites of heat pump training (as required):

• Hot Water Systems & Safety (inc. Unvented hot water)
• LCL Awards Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency for Gas fired and Oil Fired Domestic Heating and Hot Water Systems
• WRAS Water Regulations Certificate
• LCL Awards Level 3 Award in Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Systems in Dwellings
• Essential Electrics and Safe Isolation of Electrical Equipment

Additional extras include manufacturers commissioning training and MCS Made Easy, the UK’s premier support package for installers wanting to achieve MCS certification – an essential requirement for heat pump installers who want to work under government consumer initiative schemes, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Heat pump skills gap – how many installers do we need?

To hit climate change targets, we need to be installing 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028. This would require around 27,000 qualified and MCS certified heat pump installers – 9 times more than we have today (estimated at around 3,000, with 1,200 businesses certified under MCS) – at least 4,000 per year from now until 2028.

More information about HITSS can be found at https://www.hitss.co.uk/