Blair Plumbing & Heating Solutions Ltd

The Low Carbon Skills Grant was funded by the Scottish Government from 2020-2021 to help equip businesses with the skills required to install heat pumps. Courses were available through a number of colleges across Scotland.

Graeme found out about the grant via SNIPEF and describes the process of gaining the funding as ‘effortless’. The grant covered 100% of both Iain and Graeme’s training fees while on the course at Glasgow Clyde College. Training can often cause headaches for businesses as they need to ensure employees have enough time to attend college while managing their normal work activities.

In total the course took the apprentices four days to complete.

Graeme acknowledges that the heating and plumbing landscape is changing to meet the Scottish Government’s net zero targets and the best way to prepare his business is to train and invest in his staff.

“The technologies are changing, and the carbon emission targets need to be met. Iain and other apprentices are going to be working with this technology for the rest of their lives, as far as I can see.

“A huge focus for Blair Plumbing & Heating Solutions is to develop staff and let them grow within the company. As a small business, it’s really important to have well skilled employees.”

Graeme Blair, director, Blair Plumbing & Heating Solutions

Graeme is not only preparing his team for the future, but he’s also preparing them for the jobs that are in demand now. They have recently seen a significant increase in demand for air source heat pumps in the areas they service.

Graeme can already see a significant shift in the demand for renewable heating systems through the enquiries he is getting now. Customer interest in air source heat pumps is mainly driven by environmental reasons, and the increasing number of funding options available to householders and SMEs is also helping to drive the demand.

As far as Iain is concerned, renewables are the future, and he would encourage his peers to upskill now:

“The industry is changing and you’re now becoming a renewables engineer. It’s important from an apprentice and employer’s point of view to communicate this. There’s so much positive change happening that I think it’s a good industry to be in.

“At the end of the day Scotland is working towards its net zero goal, the more we learn about renewable technologies the better. It’s exciting!”

Iain Winnard, plumbing and heating engineer, Blair Plumbing & Heating Solutions

Energy Saving Trust’s MCS Certification Fund provides grants to Scottish installers to become MCS-certified for heat pumps for the first time.

With the number of heat pump installations required in Scottish homes and businesses to achieve net zero targets, ensuring customers have working and quality heating systems installed is key. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) plays an important role in this as the Scottish Government’s chosen certification body for its multiple funding schemes. MCS certification demonstrates compliance of both products and installation contractors with recognised industry standards.

Graeme’s business has been affected by not having the certification and is currently undergoing the application phase of the MCS certification fund.

There has never been a better time to upskill and diversify your business. As part of Energy Saving’s Trust work on the Sustainable Energy Supply Chain programme, we’re working to promote the funding and training available in Scotland to help upskill workers on renewable technologies such as heat pumps.

If you are interested in becoming a heat pump installer in Scotland, see the available funding and read our guide, which includes a list of colleges offering heat pump short courses.