Grant UK’s ‘Start With Grant’ scheme has been designed to give heating engineers in England and Wales the chance to gain real-world experience with heat pumps in their own homes. Anna Wakefield, Head of Internal Sales and Marketing at Grant UK, outlines the scheme and how it can help installers build skills, knowledge and confidence.
When it comes to decarbonising homes, much of the focus has been on consumers, with grants, incentives and campaigns encouraging households to switch from fossil fuels. But the success of the transition also depends on installers. Trained, confident heat pump installers are key to delivering reliable, efficient systems which result in happier consumers and in turn, supports wider heat pump adoption and the move to net zero.
The Start With Grant scheme in England and Wales has turned the lens firmly on the installer, providing those who have never worked with heat pumps with a fully funded Aerona 290 air source heat pump system to fit in their own home. In addition to the heat pump, installers receive a hot water cylinder, volumiser, smart controller and installation kit, along with comprehensive support for training, commissioning and MCS sign-off. This provides them with practical experience of the technology, both during installation and throughout its use.
The idea was inspired by the Start at Home pilot in Scotland, run by Nesta and SNIPEF, which explored whether installing a heat pump at home could help newly trained installers gain confidence with the technology and feel equipped to recommend and install heat pumps for their customers.
Gain experience
For heating engineers who know fossil fuel boilers inside out but have little experience with renewables, the Start With Grant scheme bridges the gap. It allows them to learn hands-on by installing a heat pump in their own home and understand first-hand why correct siting and control setup make such a difference to performance.
Start With Grant is made for heating installers who are new to heat pumps. With this scheme, installers are supported throughout the entire installation process – from in-depth heat pump training and help with system design, to onsite commissioning and MCS sign off. Furthermore, an installer is never left on their own – Grant UK’s Technical Team is just a call away at any stage.
Funding is drawn from the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). Grant UK works with MCS partner, Heat Pump Go, to apply for and administer the BUS application on behalf of the installer, which is used to cover the cost of materials, support and MCS sign-off. Once the project is signed off, the installer also receives a £1,500 contribution towards installation costs.
The long-term benefits extend beyond the initial installation. Installers who complete the programme can join the Grant G1 Scheme, unlocking a seven-year guarantee on their Aerona 290 heat pump and any future customer installations. For those with the pre-requisite plumbing and G3 qualifications, it also opens the door to installing MCS accredited projects via Heat Pump Go and access to BUS funding for their customers without having to be directly MCS approved themselves.
Driving the low-carbon transition
With the UK pushing towards net zero, schemes like Start With Grant highlight the importance of supporting the workforce as much as the technology itself. By helping installers get hands-on experience with heat pumps in their own homes, barriers are lowered, skills are strengthened and confidence is built.
Living with a heat pump can been invaluable for an installer. It can provide greater assurance when talking to customers and allow them to highlight the benefits of the technology based on genuine experience.
For heating installers considering the move into low-carbon technology, Start With Grant offers an opportunity to build skills in a real-world way. Its combination of training, product knowledge and personal experience gives installers a head start in growing their business in the expanding heat pump market.
Image: Grant UK
