04 March 2026
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Going from zero experience of renewable technologies to completing seven successful Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) installations in just seven months is no mean feat. Bill Taylor, Co-Director at Harvard Renewables, looks back at his heat pump journey – and what advice he’d give today to others considering moving into heat pumps.
Bill had been working as a senior engineer at Harvard Heating for 15 years when one day he had a light bulb moment: now was the time to consider expanding into heat pumps. First, though, he needed to persuade his boss Bo Lindeman who is the Owner of Harvard Heating and the Co-Founder and CoDirector of Harvard Renewables.
It wasn’t that Harvard Heating was short on business – the Kent company was running profitably with a full order book – but Bill had his reasons for wanting to persuade Bo to form Harvard Renewables together.
“For a while I’d been thinking about developing my own skillset and ways to diversify the business,” Bill said. “But I also genuinely want to support homeowners and businesses looking to move to cleaner heat, by helping them make informed decisions as to the best solution and approach for them.”
Getting started
Bo saw immediately the business potential behind the idea, but this was a whole new area for the pair. So where to start? As Harvard Heating had worked closely with Baxi on the boiler side for over a decade, their first port of call for support was their Area Sales Manager Steve Bates who suggested attending a free Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) awareness day at Baxi’s Dartford training centre.
Bill and Bo signed up immediately. “After the product day, I was 100% convinced and we immediately signed up for the Baxi Heat Pump Installer course to learn more about ASHP design, application, installation and commissioning,” Bill continued.
Completing this course would mean that Harvard Renewables could directly commission ASHPs, providing an additional revenue stream for the company. For Bill, though, there was an added benefit.
“Our focus is, and has always been, on trust and quality. So, a key benefit of being a Baxi Heat Pump Installer for me was that I could also provide my customers with an enhanced heat pump warranty, which would bring peace of mind of high heat pump performance. “The Baxi training course divides nicely between theory and hands-on training which suited me down to the ground,” he explained.
“This was carried out in the workshop, where trainers explained each component to us and really broke it down.”
The training didn’t stop there. Next, Bill and Bo enrolled on the BPEC ASHP course that Baxi offers. This covers the principles of design, installation, commissioning and servicing ASHP systems. The course is followed by a formal assessment.
First installation
“By now we’d done the research and were fully trained, which meant it was time to put it all into practice,” Bill recalled.
“Bo decided that the first install should be done at his 1930s detached house – ‘putting his mouth where his mouth is’, as he neatly put it!
“It was a great idea, but I was a bit daunted, if I’m honest,” he continued. “There’s a lot of expensive kit involved in a heat pump installation – and don’t forget that this was happening at the home of my business partner! The pressure was on.”
Fortunately, as a Baxi Heat Pump Installer, Bill also received free assisted commissioning support on the first installation from one of their specialist engineers.
“I can’t tell you how reassuring that was! I had a commissioning engineer by my side, checking every detail and offering useful tips for future projects. It really filled me with confidence.”
With his first installation a success, it was time to promote Harvard’s new service in the local area.
Launching the new company
“Bo and I were so excited about the prospect of starting a new renewables business but, if we are brutally honest, it wasn’t as easy as we had anticipated,” Bill said. “However, as a company, we are committed to the future of the heat pump industry, so we were absolutely determined to make this work.”
A marketing budget had been set aside to launch Harvard Renewables across Greater London and the South East. The f irst step was to develop a new website. The next move was a Pay Per Click (PPC) campaign with Google to drum up business.
“The PPC campaign was a great way to launch our new Renewables division and reach potential customers,” added Bill. “You only pay when someone clicks on your advert, so it’s a cost-effective way to get leads. And as you can target users by location, it means you can hone in on the specific area you want to focus on as well as customer type – in our case, homeowners and businesses.”
Sort the wheat from the chaff
Sure enough, the leads began to come in, but disappointingly many failed to result in new business. “There was a lot of interest in those early days,” Bill explained, “but for me, too many leads came to nothing. All those site visits felt like a waste of time! So, we took the decision to started charging an upfront cost that would be deducted if the job went ahead. Unsurprisingly, this changed the situation overnight, helping us to identify the genuine leads and use our time more efficiently.”
On the subject of costs, for Bill this remains a major deterrent for homeowner customers, particularly those living in older properties. “Of course, the government’s £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding significantly cuts heat pump installation costs,” he said, “but there’s no getting away from the fact that the total cost can be as much as £12,500 on projects where building fabric or pipework and radiator upgrades are required. That means the homeowner has to come up with around £5,000 which isn’t cheap.
“I’d also like to see at least some funding for homeowners looking to replace an existing heat pump with a new model,” he added. “Not the full £7,500, but perhaps half of that to allow them to upgrade and optimise comfort and heat pump performance.”
Learning curve
Looking back over the last seven months, Bill can hardly believe how much experience and confidence he has gained as an ASHP installer.
“I said I wanted to upskill, but I don’t think I fully appreciated that the learning would carry on long after the Baxi training courses!” he laughed. “Every project has been different. We’ve fitted heat pumps into new build commercial properties, retrofitted ASHPs into older homes and carried out like-for-like heat pump replacements. You name it, we’ve done it! Each job teaches you something new, so there’s never a dull moment.”
Advice to those starting out
What advice, then, would Bill give to those considering moving into heat pumps?
“My first piece of advice would be to find out as much as you can at the outset. Dip your toe into the water rather than rushing headlong in. Go on a heat pump product awareness course and speak to other installers who are already installing them. We might be rivals but fundamentally we do get on! Ask if you can go along to see an install so that you have a better idea of what’s actually involved. Maybe even partner up with a more experienced company like ours if you have a lead.
“My second tip is to partner with a responsible manufacturer. Baxi were great, not just with the training and commissioning at the early stages, but providing the heat pump solutions, offering regular promotional incentives for Baxi Heat Pump Installers, and supplying leads for new business opportunities. Good manufacturer back up and support shouldn’t be underestimated.
“I’d also suggest considering using MCS Umbrella Schemes, especially if, like me, fitting heat pumps is the part you enjoy. I give the design side and admin to a company that specialises in this area, which frees me up to specialise in heat pump installation.
“And finally, if you do make the move to heat pumps, take time to recognise your progress and give yourself a little pat on the back. You won’t necessarily know everything in a day, a week or even six months, but what you are doing is incredible, as is the small part you’re playing in creating a more sustainable future.”
https://harvardrenewables.co.uk/
