• A new Heat Pump Association report shows the UK will need 41,000 heat pump workers by 2028 and 122,000 by 2035 to meet climate goals.
  • Despite growth in training, 39% of trained installers are not actively working, highlighting a workforce gap.
  • The HPA calls for government action to boost confidence and support policies that encourage more trained workers to enter the heat pump market.

UK heat pump workforce must grow to meet climate goals, says Heat Pump Association report

A new report by the Heat Pump Association (HPA) reveals the workforce growth needed to meet the UK’s climate targets. The report, ‘Projecting the Future Domestic Heat Pump Workforce’, outlines how many skilled workers are required to install heat pumps in homes.

To meet the government’s target of 600,000 installations annually by 2028, the heat pump sector will need 41,000 full-time workers. By 2035, when the goal increases to 1.6 million installations per year, this figure rises to 122,000.

The report highlights progress in training rates. In 2023, over 7,800 individuals completed heat pump training—a 133% increase compared to 2022. More than 7,000 have already been trained in the first three quarters of 2024. However, there’s a gap. Around 39% of those trained are not actively installing heat pumps.

HPA Chief Executive, Charlotte Lee, commented: 

‘Today’s publication highlights the need for clarity and action from the Government to increase and sustain interest in heat pump training to meet the UK’s heat pump deployment targets. The availability and provision of courses are not the limiting factors in this instance; rather, there is a lack of confidence in the market and uncertainty about the heat pump deployment pipeline.

Now is not the time for complacency. Although we have seen continued growth and interest in heat pump training, this momentum must continue. It is essential that action is taken to encourage those trained to apply their skills and gain the experience that must go hand in hand with the training if we are to have the competent workforce needed to deliver the required growth at scale and speed.’

The report also showcases the industry’s capacity to grow. HPA members operate over 260 training sites, capable of training 80,000 individuals annually.

Dr Richard Hauxwell-Baldwin, Head of Policy, Research and Campaigns at The MCS Foundation, added: 

‘Training rates to develop a skilled workforce to meet the demand of net zero heating are growing, but it is vital that those who train go on to install heat pumps in order to decarbonise UK homes. To ensure continued confidence and growth in the sector, the Government must introduce long-term policies such as the Future Homes Standard, making heat pumps the default in all new homes, and provide clarity to the market to support investment in the transition to clean heat.’

The findings will be discussed in a webinar on November 25. The full report, along with supporting materials, is available on the HPA website.

This report is a call to action. The UK must scale up its heat pump workforce quickly and effectively to meet its climate goals.