Following the announcement of the Warm Home Plan, Kevin Wellman, Chief Executive Officer at the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) said:
“The Warm Homes Plan is a welcome and necessary step towards tackling fuel poverty, improving energy efficiency, and cutting carbon from the UK’s homes. Moving to more efficient heating systems is central to delivering warmer homes at lower running costs. However, this ambition must be matched with capability as the recognised skills shortage is now fast becoming a skills crisis. To make this transition work at scale, we need a highly trained workforce with the right skills and confidence to design, install, and maintain low carbon heating systems.
“We are already supporting this shift through targeted training and guidance, including our new publication on Low Temperature Hydronic Heating Systems. Investment in skills is not optional, it is essential if the Warm Homes Plan is to succeed. This plan provides a vital opportunity to embed high-quality, efficient heating and hot water systems from the outset, ensuring homes are fit for a low-carbon future and that skilled professionals are ready to deliver it.
“By prioritising training, standards and clear guidance, government and the plumbing and heating industry can work together to ensure households genuinely feel the benefits of lower bills, improved comfort and reduced emissions, while creating long-term, skilled jobs across the sector.”