Training has always been important in the heating sector, not least of all because of the dangers associated with working with gas, the traditionally dominant heating fuel in the UK.
With the changes that are occurring across the heating industry, primarily the move towards decarbonization, manifesting in a transition to heat pumps, training is more important than ever.
Principles of heat pump technology
Training could take the form of a CPD on understanding the guides of heat pump technology
That training could take the form of a CPD on understanding the principles of heat pump technology through to specific product training addressing installation, commissioning, and maintenance.
Commercial heating training courses are abundant. Unless there is a specific manufacturer’s product you want to train on, how do you choose a training course and provider that is right for you? Here, we look at the key aspects to consider when selecting a training course and training provider.
Expertise & knowledge
By far the most important aspect of any training is the level of expertise and knowledge of the training providers. The training course needs to be both written and delivered by people who have direct experience in the heating industry. Knowledge or qualifications in training techniques and knowledge transfer are equally important.
For contractor-based training, ideally, the trainers will have a background in heating engineering. This enables them to not only cover the core content of a training course but also address how it applies in real working-life situations.
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| Knowledge or qualifications in training techniques and knowledge transfer are equally important. |
For specifiers looking to expand their knowledge through CPD courses, it’s helpful if these are presented by experienced Specification Managers who understand the needs of a specifier and have extensive knowledge of heating systems.
On-site facilities
The environment itself plays an important role in the success of the training
The environment in which you learn plays an important role in the success (or otherwise) of the training itself, which is often overlooked.
Being in a comfortable environment free from distractions will support you to better focus on your learning. Is the training held in a dedicated training center or a makeshift back office room? Is it a comfortable environment in terms of seating, desks, heating/air conditioning? Is the presentation equipment up to scratch? But most important of all, is the heating equipment you are learning about present, and is it functional?
Training and Technology Centers
At our Training and Technology Centers, we provide learners with on-site access to a range of commercial heating equipment, including a unique thermodynamic heat pump simulator where they can view the change of state of refrigerant when in operation. Hands-on training for contractors is vital as it enables more learning by doing and problem solving, and therefore, greater depths of understanding can be gained.
In our feedback survey, this comes up as one of the most important and popular aspects. It’s one thing to have something presented to you, but to be able to work through scenarios with expert support is quite another.
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| Hands-on training for contractors is vital as it enables more learning by doing and problem-solving. |
Location
A CIBSE-approved CPD, for example, doesn’t require hands-on training
We’ve looked at the importance of how a training course is delivered, but where it is delivered also has a role to play. Does the training provider have training facilities nationwide, or in just one location? The latter could make for long travel times and even an overnight stay. Ideal Expert Academies are located around the UK at Hull, Leeds, Dalgety Bay, and Luton.
Lastly, not all training needs to be done in person. A CIBSE-approved CPD, for example, doesn’t require hands-on training. In these instances, online training is a good, convenient option. Will the training provider be able to deliver this and how? Is it just a PowerPoint presentation, or are other elements included, such as video, attendee tasks, etc?
Range of courses and delivery
Having a range of courses is obviously important in that it provides you with choice and allows you to fill in the gaps of your knowledge, as well as learning about emerging technologies and best practices.
A good training provider will also provide a flexible delivery model to meet individual learner needs and have the knowledge and expertise to support those with learning difficulties.
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| Good training provider also provides a flexible delivery model to meet individual learner needs. |
Endorsement
Ideal Heating’s adult learning provision was assessed by Ofsted, and they received an excellent report
Whilst it’s important to do your own ‘homework’ on training providers, third-party endorsements are very useful. These come in different forms, from customer feedback (there are plenty of forums that provide you with the opportunity to ask for feedback), through to recognized industry awards, and independent assessment.
Last year, Ideal Heating’s adult learning provision was assessed by Ofsted, and we received an excellent report, plus our Expert Academy team was recognized as Training Partner of 2024 by Hull City Council for delivering Skills Bootcamp programs for hundreds of learners in the area. We were also delighted to receive the inaugural BESA award for Training Provider of the Year 2024.
Cost
The last aspect I want to touch on when it comes to training is cost. How much should you pay for training? You should really consider the value you believe will be returned from the program and the provider you choose.
If you are going to benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, you may probably expect that experience may cost more than somewhere very simple and basic. Training providers are businesses, and the good ones do invest heavily in facilities and staff development.
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| The good ones do invest heavily in facilities and staff development. |
Ideal Heating as a manufacturer strongly believe that our training services are part of what we deliver in our product sales. For this reason, we provide many of our training programs for free or at very low cost, despite the significant investment into our resources. Working alongside our specifiers and installers to meet their training needs builds for a strong relationship and successful projects.
Choose wisely
Taking time out from your busy schedule to dedicate to training is an investment, financially in some cases, so selecting your training course wisely to maximize that investment is sensible.
