Grant UK’s training offering has been expanded and its North Yorkshire facility redeveloped. PHPI finds out more.
Grant UK has a long history of providing training to oil and renewables installers. Its training facility at the company’s recently-renovated HQ in Devizes has been an approved OFTEC training and assessment centre for almost 15 years. Meanwhile, the GTEC centre in Hawes, with its purpose-built facilities, has become an established off-site training venue for Grant UK.
For over six years, Grant UK’s Training Academy has been working with Griff Thomas, the Managing Director of GTEC, building a partnership which delivers Grant product courses to installers based throughout the North and Scotland. In 2017, a redevelopment programme at Hawes updated the existing products and introduced a number of new products to the centre, increasing both the oil boiler and renewable technology facilities available for engineers.
The range of oil boilers installed at Hawes has been increased with new models, such as a VortexBlue demonstration model and one of Grant’s new Vortex Boiler House boilers, joining products already installed. Some of the older boilers are being replaced with the latest versions in order to give installers a comprehensive offering of Grant’s current oil range.
“This updated and expanded selection of oil boilers enable installers attending the centre to gain experience with a wider variety of Vortex and VortexBlue models and the Grant Training Academy will now be able to offer OFTEC courses at these premises in Hawes,” explains Phil Stanley, Training Manager.
In addition to the updated oil training facilities, the range of Grant renewable technologies has also been expanded at the centre. Previously, Grant UK was able to offer training on Grant Solar Thermal products, the Spira biomass boiler, and the current Aerona³ air source heat pumps.
Today, with all of Grant’s renewable technologies installed, the Hawes centre can host the full range of Grant’s product courses, on both oil and renewables. In addition to the existing solar thermal training rigs, the GTEC premises now also have: the new Vecta internal biomass boiler and side store, a new Vecta external biomass boiler, one of the latest models of the Spira biomass boiler, two Aerona³ air source heat pumps, the Grant VortexAir Hybrid, and a selection of cylinders and thermal stores. Most of these products are working models and there is also a display SpiraPod on site as well.
“This redevelopment of the GTEC facilities will make Grant’s product courses more accessible for engineers who cannot easily travel to Grant UK’s HQ in Wiltshire,” explains Phil. “With the entire range of Grant’s products installed, the GTEC centre now replicates the facilities in Devizes – allowing Grant UK’s award-winning Training Academy to increase its reach amongst installers.”
There are also plans for Grant UK to work with other independent training centres in Wales, Scotland and South East England where Grant can offer product training on its oil boilers. Training has always been at the centre of Grant’s ethos, equipping engineers with the knowledge they need to confidently work in the field, and this recent expansion of the Grant Training Academy reflects Grant’s continued commitment to supporting installers.
At its HQ, the Grant Training Academy had a busy 2017 with both product and OFTEC courses. Interest in OFTEC training remains incredibly high, with an increasing number of new applicants being trained and assessed. The Grant Vortex oil boiler installer courses remain the most popular, reflecting the strength of the oil boiler market, with the Aerona³ air source heat pump courses coming in a close second, reflecting the growing interest in this renewable technology.
Feedback from installers who attend Grant training courses remains incredibly positive. One engineer recently commented that “all three days of courses were extremely enjoyable and I would recommend the Grant Training Academy to anyone”. Meanwhile, another installer commented on the quality of training delivered: “The tuition from Steve Ellison, our instructor, was excellent – I was very impressed with the course content.” The Grant Training Academy’s success is based upon the team of experienced trainers who deliver the courses – trainers who are only too happy to assist installers with their queries and questions.
“The Grant Training Academy was established in 2003 and its growth has reflected Grant’s innovative product development in the off-gas heating market,” says Phil. “The past 15 years have been an exciting period for Grant’s Training Academy and, with its extensive facilities in Devizes and Hawes, the next 15 years should be just as fantastic.”
For more details, visit www.grantuk.com.
