Source · Select Committees · Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Rejected
Heat Training Grant inadequately compensates workers for lost earnings during low carbon retrofit upskilling.
Conclusion
The Heat Training Grant does not adequately incentivise workers to take time off work to upskill on low carbon retrofit or compensate them for lost earnings. Many workers in the retrofit sector are self-employed and cannot afford to take time off work to commit to a multi-day course. (Conclusion, Paragraph 137)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged ongoing work to ensure the Heat Training Grant offers value for money but explicitly rejected the idea of compensating installers for lost earnings due to concerns about complexity and fraud risks.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The government continues to work with training providers and industry to ensure the Heat Training Grant offers the best value for money. The Heat Training Grant helps to overcome the barriers that existing professionals face when upskilling to become a heat pump installer or work in heat networks. In heat networks, the scheme enables new entrants and those transitioning from other sectors to become part of this growth opportunity. Industry estimates suggest we need to train at least 6,600 installers a year until 2028. In total around 9,000 individuals completed training in 2024 through a combination of the Heat Training Grant and industry training. Furthermore, Government recently announced an additional £5 million in funding for the Heat Training Grant this financial year. The Low Carbon Heating Technician apprenticeship launched in Autumn 2023 to help bring new entrants into the heat pump sector and build a sustainable skills pipeline. While we are always open to making improvements to the scheme, we are sceptical about plans to compensate installers for lost earnings given the complexity of delivering this in a way that avoids risks of fraud.