A European-wide study conducted by the drainage and plumbing manufacturer Wavin has found that the UK is struggling to keep up with the number of solar panel and heat pump installations that are happening in Europe.
What has the Wavin study found?
Data shows that there was a 10% drop in the number of HVAC installers working on projects involving heat pumps between the last quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. There is some evidence to show that some of this may be down to a skills shortage, as 83% of German HVAC installers have the ability to fit heat pumps, compared with just 49% of UK installers.
Looking to the future
The Future Homes Standard is set to come into force in the UK in 2025, which is designed to ensure the majority of new properties built throughout England are fitted with both solar panels and low carbon heating systems, including heat pumps, in a bid to keep energy bills low.
In order to deliver this, investing in the skill sets of current and new installers is key. Services such as https://bmcareers.com/distributors-and-builders-merchants-vacancies can help you to browse builders merchants jobs, identify your ideal working environment, and help you to ensure you’re making a real difference to those employed in the building sector.
It is likely that the joint government and industry solar energy roadmap will provide further information on key initiatives in due course, which will hopefully help to assuage some of the issues and concerns that have already been raised.