27 November 2025
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Sarah Prutton, Training Manager, Panasonic Heating & Cooling, shares how her passion and curiosity have shaped her career and fueled her determination to train and support the next generation of skilled heat pump installers and engineers.
At the age of 16, I secured a modern apprenticeship with a large telecommunications company. It offered the best of both worlds, providing qualifications and further education while also allowing me to work and earn a wage. Unfortunately, after my three year apprenticeship, the business was not in a good place and could not offer permanent employment.
At 19, I decided to shadow my brother, who is a gas engineer. I quickly realised that this was something I could do and build a career around. I was always the person asking questions like “Why isn’t that working?”, “How does this work?”, and “Why are we doing it this way?”, which drove my brother to distraction! But that curiosity helped me find my niche and paved the way for the Technical Trainer and Manager roles I went on to achieve.
I get a genuine sense of achievement from seeing others develop and gain knowledge. When that penny drops as I am explaining a concept, and those conversations spark with the “why?” askers, it reminds me that anyone can learn anything with the right trainer and the right method for each individual.
I continue to advocate for further education and have completed a Level 5 qualification in Operational Management. I believe in grasping every opportunity that comes my way and seeking them out when necessary.
I got into the heat pump industry as, being a gas and heating engineer by trade, it was quite a seamless transition. Throughout my 25-year career, I came across heat pumps intermittently, which sparked my curiosity and drive to understand more about the technology. During my time as a Technical Manager in a previous role, I took every opportunity to get involved with heat pumps, building my knowledge and experience in the field. Two years ago, I made the full transition from gas to renewable heating technologies, focusing solely on heat pumps when I joined Panasonic.
What does your current role involve?
I manage Panasonic’s training delivery, which covers our entire product range. I specifically deliver our Air to Water Accredited Installer Training Sessions and create bespoke technical training modules. Most of my training delivery is for installers, specifiers, and engineers. I travel all over the country to deliver sessions, as well as hosting multiple courses at our headquarters in Hertfordshire. I also facilitate our CO2 refrigeration and Air to Air training courses.
We have a number of training locations across the UK, including Cardiff, Livingston, Sunderland, and many more. A key part of my role involves reviewing and updating training materials, particularly when new products are released. It’s essential to keep course attendees engaged with relevant and up-to-date information, so I often tailor each session depending on the audience. For example, if I’m working with a group of new build heat pump installers, we’ll spend more time focusing on commissioning.
What do you see as the challenges facing the industry?
I believe our biggest current challenge is the lack of trained, skilled, and experienced installers, as well as breakdown and maintenance engineers. Many engineers enter the heat pump industry by diversifying their existing skill set, for example gas engineers or plumbers who move into heat pump installation.
There are still too few specialist companies focused solely on heat pumps, which limits the available workforce. Plumbers and gas engineers are very well suited to the role, as they already possess around 70 percent of the required skills to install heat pumps but you would need three multi skilled installers for one heat pump specialist. I do have hope that this will change with the introduction modern apprenticeships in the renewable heating field.
Another challenge is the lingering effect of inaccurate or negative press around heat pumps. Much of this originated from poor installations in the early days and misinformation.
We actively discuss, challenge, and debunk these misconceptions during our training sessions to raise awareness of how heat pumps actually work. While they are not and never will be fossil fuel burning gas boilers, they are more than capable of providing a comfortable level of warmth all year round, with little or no increase in running costs.
Did you have any mentor’s or anyone in particular who inspired you?
I often think about the many engineers I worked alongside in the very early days of my career, the look on their faces when I walked into the room, the rolling of the eyes (let’s remember, we’re going back 25 years). They soon came to realise my passion and thirst for knowledge, and I was quickly welcomed into the team. I would often double up on jobs whenever I saw a learning opportunity. Of course, my brother inspired me too, and he still does today.
What would you say to other women who are considering coming into the heat pump industry?
Do it! Head over to Panasonic Pro Club, create an account, and book onto one of our A2W Accredited Installer Courses. We cover everything from key concepts to the role of the refrigerant in a heat pump (you do not need to hold an F-Gas qualification to attend the training). The course also takes you through the Panasonic range, which offers a solution for every installation capacity from 3 kW to 300 kW.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I have an 11-year-old son, so I enjoy spending time with him, whether it’s going bowling, swimming, or just a bit of gaming at home. I also really enjoy cooking, although I am not great at following recipes — I consider them more of a guide and like to get a bit creative. For that reason, I really cannot bake!
