Why Your Next Heat Pump Install Should Start at Home
You’ve completed the training, you have the qualifications, and you know the theory. But there’s often a big hurdle between completing a course and confidently fitting your first heat pump for a customer. This lack of on the job experience can be a major barrier to entering the growing low-carbon heating market.
Thinking of completing an Air Source Heat Pump Course?
That’s where the Start at Home initiative comes in. This programme isn’t about sitting through more training; it’s about giving UK heating engineers the ultimate, low pressure, hands-on experience: Government funded heat pump install in your own home or the home of a close relative.
Close the Gap: Experience, Confidence, and Credibility
Heat pumps are central to the UK’s strategy for decarbonising home heating, and the demand for skilled installers is soaring. By participating in a Start at Home scheme, you don’t just gain a new heating system you gain the invaluable expertise that turns training into a trustworthy, marketable skill set.
How Start at Home Empowers You:
Hands-On Learning with Zero Pressure: Your own home is the ideal training ground. As engineer Ryan Beattie shared, installing one in his own property was “really good practice on how you would do it for a customer.” You have the time to master every step, from the initial heat loss calculation to the final commissioning, without a client looking over your shoulder.
Significant Financial Support: Eligible heating engineers could benefit from up to £7,500* worth of heat pump kit and expert support. This support, combined with government funding through schemes like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, makes your first install highly cost-effective. The included kit often covers the heat pump, hot water cylinder, and heat pump-specific components.
Support for MCS Certification: Partnering with a scheme organiser helps reduce the cost and paperwork. They can provide essential services like:
-Conducting the required heat loss calculation.
-System design and technical support.
-Support with commissioning and the MCS certification process.
Become a Heat Pump Evangelist: Once you’ve installed a heat pump, you’re not just an installer; you’re a user. Living with the technology gives you 24/7 experience, allowing you to confidently answer customer questions from a personal perspective. As one engineer noted, “Now I have confidence that I’ve got one running in my own property, that I have 24/7 experience of.”
What you’ll receive free of charge for your own home:
-An air source heat pump up to 12kw, or equivalent ground source or air-to-air system (an extra charge can be applied for more powerful heat pumps).
-Hot water storage up to 200L or equivalent thermal store or domestic hot water supply (an extra charge can be applied for larger cylinders).
-Heat pump and/or system controls.
-Heat pump-specific equipment and connection parts.
-Support with heat loss and system design.
-Support with installation, if requested.
You may receive additional extras and other support from certain schemes.
*In some cases, installation may not be fully subsidised and additional costs may apply, such as for homes that require a larger heat pump, or for additional non-heat-pump-related kit or electrical work. Participation is subject to eligibility criteria and terms and conditions.
Visit the official Start at Home website to find an eligible scheme and register your interest.
