14 May 2026
|
Malcolm Farrow, Director of Marketing and External Affairs at OFTEC, discusses the growing interest in heat pumps, which is driving the move toward net-zero heating; however, lower costs, increased training and upskilling, and a multi technology approach are essential for wider adoption.
To achieve the UK’s net zero targets, we need to see a profound transformation in how we heat our homes over the next two decades. The heat pump market and consumer interest are growing, but at the same time the cost of living is having an impact on what households can afford.
We’ve seen positive investment in training and upskilling, however market uncertainty makes it harder for businesses planning ahead. Despite this, there is every reason to be positive and at OFTEC we see a clear path ahead for successful decarbonisation through electrification.
Installations rising and a surge in consumer interest
In recent years we have seen a steady shift in consumer behaviour. Homeowners are increasingly conscious of their environmental impact and are actively exploring low carbon heating solutions. This in itself is reason to be positive. Heat pumps have moved from a niche technology to a mainstream solution at the forefront of the public conversation when it comes to net zero.
Undoubtedly, the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with its £7,500 grant, has provided a crucial catalyst for the growth in installations. It has successfully incentivised early adopters and stimulated the market. The government set incredibly ambitious targets, given the economic climate, so it’s easy to be negative about seemingly slower than expected progress. However, this generational shift in how we heat our homes was never going to happen overnight.
The continued long-term success of the heat pump rollout now relies on transitioning to a mature, self-sustaining market which isn’t reliant on subsidies. We need to work collaboratively to reduce the baseline costs of installations, ensuring that heat pumps become an affordable and mainstream option for all households.
This shift from a government backed initiative to an independent, thriving commercial sector is the next critical phase. We’ve seen in the past technologies stumble at this hurdle, but history doesn’t have to repeat itself.
The critical role of training and upskilling
Alongside bringing costs down to incentivise consumers, we need to prioritise rapidly growing the workforce of qualified heat pump technicians. This includes both bringing new people into the industry from a young age, and upskilling the existing workforce. To this end, the Heat Pump Training grant and similar schemes have been successful.
OFTEC has supported these consistently. As a result, we are pleased to have seen thousands of technicians complete our own heat pump training courses. In fact, today, nearly one in ten OFTEC technicians is registered for heat pump installations.
However, this is just the starting point. There is clear evidence that not all technicians who complete their training are going on to actually deliver installations. This is likely because there is still market uncertainty and low demand from the customers they currently serve. The chicken and egg scenario is a well written cliche but it explains the current dilemma. We need qualified technicians to install heat pumps, but we need demand for heat pump installations to drive demand for training. Circling back to the first point, that’s why bringing the cost down for consumers is key to unlocking this challenge.
The multi technology approach
So, how do we move forward? Schemes such as the innovative Nesta Start at Home initiative are helping, but we also need to think more pragmatically and strategically about heat pump deployment. We want to see technicians trained in liquid fuels upskill and expand into heat pumps. But crucially, heat pumps should not be seen as the only policy option. Heat pumps can complement different technologies on the market.
OFTEC technicians, qualified for liquid fuels and heat pumps, are then best placed to advise households on which solution is most suited to their property, budget and personal preferences. This includes exploring potential hybrid systems to increase deployment of heat pumps.
This versatility ensures that consumers receive the best possible guidance and technicians are incentivised to invest in training across multiple technologies. We will continue to urge the government to back this technology neutral approach to decarbonisation.
