13 April 2023
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International Women’s Day was held in March and with that in mind Heat Pumps Today are very pleased to highlight the journeys of 2 successful women from the heat pump industry within this issue.
Aimee Holloran, Business Development Manager, Heating Solutions at Samsung UK
How did you get into the heat pump industry?
Back when I was studying at Swindon College, I did a plumbing apprenticeship where I achieved my NVQ2 and NWQ3 Qualifications which eventually led me into the heating and plumbing industry. After qualifying, I worked on the tools for a while before moving into sales development and low carbon heating solutions where I developed a strong interest in heat pumps.
What was your first job?
I was a gas engineer at Integral where I learnt lots about industry. As a Gas engineer, I had to stay on top of current gas regulations as well as a variety of Commercial/Domestic appliances, manufacturers, and installations. While on the job, I developed comprehensive technical skills and knowledge of heating systems with controls/BMS knowledge as well as plumbing skills.
What does your current role involve?
As Business Development Manager for Heating at Samsung, I work within the heating team and collaborate on sales planning, strategy and execution. None of this would be possible without my team who I work very closely on a daily basis. We both build on existing relationships and build new ones to increase the Samsung network. Samsung’s experience in the HVAC industry means that we are able to position ourselves as a trusted advisor across the business. In addition, it’s my job to actively engage with our partners to help them in their business objectives and work to support them in this exciting time as the industry grows.
What do you see as the challenges facing the industry?
One of the challenges the industry faces is upskilling the workforce in this low carbon technology, especially with the government’s goal to install 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028. This was illustrated by our own research which was published in December 2022 – only 23% of current heating industry professionals are already fully trained to be an air source heat pump installer and nearly three in five (57%) are not considering training at all, so as a manufacturer we are working in collaboration with the industry to help increase training on heat pumps as the market grows. In addition, 61% of those polled attributed the skills gap in low carbon and energy efficient technology to a lack of understanding about the future potential for heat pumps, so there is huge room for future growth in this area.
The other challenge we face as an industry is the lack of female representation – at the moment, women represent just 2% of the heating industry as a whole. There’s certainly more women in the sector than when I first started but there’s definitely still progress to be made. Over the years, I’ve been pleased to see that there’s a growing network of women within an industry that’s traditionally known to be male-dominant.
What would you say to other women who are considering coming into the heat pump industry?
Having been in the industry for over 18 years, what I’d say to anyone who is considering a career in the heating industry is: do not let anyone dictate (or tell you) what you can or cannot do. The stereotypes about strength and it being a ‘man’s job’ are certainly not true – when it comes to fitting boilers or heat pumps, it is all about the technique and leverage over strength so everyone can do it.
There are plenty of resources within the industry for those who are curious and would like to find out more about what a career in the heat pump industry offers. You can also reach out to colleges offering apprenticeships and ways into the industry. Do not be afraid to give it a go and you never know where it might lead you!
Outside of work
Outside of work I love keeping fit, with Crossfit, tennis, and anything which gets me moving, family time is important to me and giving my children access to a range of activities, to enable them to make their own decision takes up most of my spare time. I have two boys and a daughter and I want them all to do the same activities regardless of gender or gender stereotypes, to let them make their own choices around things they enjoy. I also love to get on my allotment, to be as sustainable and self-sufficient as possible.
www.samsung.com/uk
