Following the news that the UK lockdown will remain in place for at least another three weeks, Vaillant and Glow-worm are turning to digital and online training and business advice to support installers during this challenging time.
Installers and contractors can now sign up for free online training courses on some of the industry’s hottest topics, including the decarbonisation of heat in buildings, hydrogen and other green gases, and the use of plate heat exchangers in commercial systems.
The company has also added to its online learning portfolio with the addition of its popular Business Support Clinics. The 2020 clinics include a new team of experts all on hand to offer free advice on issues affecting the trade in a series of hour-long interactive webinars – meaning members of the Vaillant Advance or Glow-worm Club Energy loyalty programmes can register and receive the advice for free.
Online training courses
Although Vaillant and Glow-worm’s Centres of Excellence are temporarily closed, its training team have been hard at work creating online courses that closely replicate the experience of on-site training.
Installers can register their interest by filling out an online form or speaking to their area sales manager. Sessions currently on offer include:
Decarbonisation of Heat & Low Carbon Technologies: Introduction to low carbon technologies and their role in decarbonising heat in buildings
Heating’s Dirty Little Secret: An overview of commercial heating and system separation using plate heat exchangers
Hydrogen: The role of green gas in the decarbonisation of heat
Water quality: The importance of water quality and introduction to best practice techniques including changes to BS7953
Business Clinics: Covering a range of business-related topics from safety advice and business resilience during these challenging times to how to work remotely, marketing strategy, optimising revenue and much more
Vaillant Controls Overview: Introduction to controls; outline of features & benefits, connecting to product / system; App based use; set up & optimisation
Energy Product Overview: Overview of range, key features and benefits, specification outline. Commissioning & set up
The initial courses have been well received by installers. Ian Briggs of I.R.B Heating said: “I participated in three of the online training courses, which were very interesting; content was good and the Zoom platform worked really well.”
Following a successful roll-out, the business plans to increase the frequency of online sessions and cover a wider range of topics, including courses on how to install, maintain and commission its flagship product ranges like the ecoTEC exclusive.
Online business support
Vaillant and Glow-worm have also partnered with a variety of industry experts to offer business advice from the comfort of installers’ own homes. These concise, hour-long sessions will provide helpful tips and guidance, supported by business-related resources on the Vaillant and Glow-worm loyalty schemes.
The preliminary sessions are geared around helping installers to weather these difficult times, with experts like the APHC and The Sales Resolution on hand to offer tax and financial advice and lessons on how to build business resilience.
In addition, installers can also gain knowledge on broader business support topics. The Boiler Business, which runs marketing and business development courses for the heating industry, will be covering topics such as business development foundations (planning, time, money, data) and online marketing techniques, including the use of Google and social media.
Additional classes are being released on a regular basis, the next series of webinars due to be released in the summer with work-based learning provider JTL, who will be joining the Business Clinics in August to answer all the questions installers may have about hiring an apprentice.
Spencer Clark, Commercial Director at Vaillant Group, comments: “These are difficult times for everyone, but our commitment at Vaillant and Glow-worm is to support our loyal installers as best as we can. The self-employed are among those who have been hit hardest by the uncertainty around COVID-19 and so we wanted to offer e-learning sessions to support our installers and help them to gain valuable knowledge. They’re completely free and are just some of the many support initiatives that we will be rolling out over the next few months and beyond.”
To sign up for an online training or a business support clinic, installers can complete the respective forms:
Vaillant Advance members
Glow-worm Club Energy members
