Renewables training gets £150m boost

The £500,000 fund was originally launched in October with the aim of expanding the skill set of domestic heating engineers to include renewable heating systems.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change says that the scheme, which includes an apprenticeship initiative, has been in high demand and that the latest infusion of cash will further bolster the supply chain in the run-up to the launch of the domestic phase of the Renewable Heat Incentive this spring.

The Minister’s visit to Grant coincided with the company’s first public showing of its new Vecta condensing wood pellet boiler, set to be officially unveiled at Ecobuild next month.

Following a tour of Grant’s training centre and its renewable systems on display, including pellet boilers, solar rigs and air source heat pumps, Mr Barker said:

“Proper planning for the RHI’s launch means we need to have the right skills and right people to deliver it. A product is only as good as the quality of the installation – without well trained installers, we will end up with lots of unhappy customers. It’s more important than ever to be investing in proper professional training, especially with new customers who may be wary of the technology. They need to have full confidence in the installer.”

Mr Barker told Energyzine that he expects to see ‘strong, steady growth’ in the RHI once it launches. “Its success rests on a foundation of well-trained, professional installers.

Paul Wakefield, MD of Grant Engineering UK, said:

“We have seen a really good uptake in vouchers at our centre here in Devizes and in the North, so we welcome the announcement by the Minister.

“We are excited to be launching our new Vectra domestic biomass condensing pellet boiler at Ecobuild in March and, alongside the boiler, we will be launching nationally recognised pellet appliance training at the same time.”

Griff Thomas of GTEC Training Ltd, which is administering the scheme, said:

“We are delighted that the uptake in vouchers has been so positive, and we have seen some great feedback from the industry already. We think the additional funding will make sure that the scheme delivers all of its objectives.”