• The UK is expanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include more green heating options and flexible financing.
  • Record heat pump applications in March 2025 have led to government plans for training 18,000 workers.
  • A £4.6 million investment will boost domestic heat pump production, creating jobs and reducing gas market reliance.

The UK’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme is further expanded as heat pump applications hit all all-time high

The UK government is broadening its support for low-carbon home heating as part of its Plan for Change. It’s making heat pumps and other green technologies more accessible and affordable for families.​

Households will soon gain access to a greater range of sustainable heating options. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) currently offers up to £7,500 toward heat pump installations. Under new proposals, the scheme will include air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries, all with flexible financing options.​

This move is spurred by surging heat pump demand. In March 2025, over 4,000 applications were submitted to the BUS. That’s a record high and an 88% increase compared to the same month last year.

This all begs the crucial question: Who’s going to install them?

The government plans to train up to 18,000 workers to retrofit homes with heat pumps, insulation, solar panels, and heat networks. Training will be provided through the Heat Training Grant and the new Warm Homes Skills Programme.​

Additionally, a £4.6 million investment in Copeland, Northern Ireland, will boost domestic production of heat pump components, creating local jobs and reducing reliance on international gas markets.​

These efforts are crucial for meeting the UK’s net zero targets. The UK must install 450,000 heat pumps annually by 2030 to decarbonise the housing sector. Currently, gas boilers outnumber heat pump installations by more than 15 to 1, and only 13% of new homes are built with heat pumps. ​

To address this, industry leaders are advocating for larger grants, especially for low-income households. Furthermore, policies like the Future Homes Standard could mandate heat pumps in new homes.​

These initiatives lay the groundwork for cleaner homes and cheaper bills, not to mention thousands of green jobs. The sustainable transformation is supporting families and driving long-term economic growth.

The HPA’s Chief Executive, Charlotte Lee, celebrated the expansion:

“Following a record year for UK heat pump sales in 2024, we warmly welcome today’s announcements which will continue to support growth in the sector and increased deployment of clean heating.

The additional funding to support those wishing to become qualified to install heat pumps and heat networks is especially welcome, alongside proposals to expand the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to make clean heating solutions an accessible option for more consumers.”