Installer spoke to Steve Clark, Heat Pump Trainer at Mitsubishi Electric, about the renewables industry, the most common questions he gets and the opportunity for installers in 2026:
Q: What led you towards the sector in the first place?
Steve: “I initially trained in the domestic gas heating and plumbing sector as I’ve always been fascinated by solving problems. I find there is something really rewarding about fixing something that people rely on every day.
“In the early days of my career, I was really interested in how quickly the low-carbon sector was beginning to change. It became pretty clear to me that heat pumps and other low-carbon solutions were the future of the industry, so I wanted to develop a niche that would allow me to stay ahead of the curve.”
Q: What made you decide to learn how to do low-carbon tech installations?
Steve: “I used to spend a lot of my working time fixing issues with boilers that weren’t installed properly or were always on the blink – which I knew could have easily been prevented when they were first installed.
“I wanted to retrain and take a more proactive approach to helping people by designing the whole system from start to finish. I researched ways to enrol in a course and completed the ‘BPEC Heat Geek Mastery Course’ in my own time, which allowed me to get a better understanding of the whole heating system design process and how best to install systems in people’s homes.”
Q: How has this changed your work patterns and conditions?
Steve: “For me, the most obvious change was moving from a hands-on job, where I spent most of my time on the tools, to now being in an office environment.
“I had never worked in an office before. But working at a global company like Mitsubishi Electric was a big but welcome change. I’ve found the structure of a 9–5 is a much better fit for me, as I spend less of my time commuting around the country and manage to enjoy a healthier work-life balance.”
Q: What does a typical day-in-the-life look like?
Steve: “I now work as a Technical Trainer at Mitsubishi Electric, where I deliver training for installers. This new role has exposed me to a lot of different challenges that I had not experienced before. I used to solve all my problems with tools, but now I take complicated information and make it more accessible for engineers in the real world to help boost their confidence.
“It’s tricky to say what a typical day looks like, as no two days are ever the same in my current job. But to give you an idea, sometimes I might be providing support for installers over the phone and by email, creating an interactive learning resource or, if I’m lucky, getting hands-on with installation – which is definitely a perk of the job.”
Q: Do you find it a friendly sector to work in?
Steve: “Yes, it’s an incredibly friendly sector to work in. I like how open people are to sharing their knowledge and how willing they are to learn from one another. I find that people across the sector understand that getting installations right is key to making the technology work well and building people’s wider confidence in it.
“All of this creates a collaborative environment, where all my colleagues work together to raise standards industry-wide – I notice that we all take pride in improving people’s lives.”
Q: What would make it easier for more people to work in the sector?
Steve: “I think making it easier for young people to access apprenticeship schemes is the key to getting more people into the sector. Don’t get me wrong, upskilling the existing workforce will undoubtedly help more installers work with heat pumps, but it’s just as important to bring the next generation into the industry.
“I remember facing some of the same challenges that young people are facing today when I was starting out. I was told by large firms to approach small businesses for experience, but the smaller firms would send me straight back to the larger firms. It’s a bit of a vicious cycle that makes it difficult for people to get their foot in the door and get their first opportunity.”
Q: What are some of the biggest myths that traditional gas installers have that stop them getting into heat pumps?
Steve: “I wouldn’t say there’s just one myth that stops installers retraining. In my experience, it’s often more about where they are in their careers. A lot of heating engineers who have spent most of their careers installing gas boilers will be able to work with gas for the next decade so they don’t see the benefit of investing their time and energy into learning a new technology.
“However, I do see some common misconceptions, such as heat pumps only being suitable for new-build properties, or that they can’t be used to help cool homes during the summer. While heat pumps can be easier to incorporate into new-build properties from the outset, they can also be installed in existing homes as part of retrofit projects – especially with new, higher temperature heat pumps that can work with existing radiators and pipes.
“Homeowners in other countries like Norway, Sweden and Finland, which experience more extreme seasonal temperatures, also use heat pumps to cool their homes during the summer months. This makes them a more attractive option for installers, as they can better help homeowners stay cool during increasingly warm summers.”
Q: What do you get the most technical questions asked about?
“Two of the main questions I get asked are: what qualifications are needed to install heat pumps, and in retrofitting projects, does every radiator need to be replaced?
“Firstly, a monobloc heat pump does not require installers to have an F-gas qualification, as the refrigerant circuit in the heat pump is already factory sealed. This means that installers do not need to handle the refrigerant directly during a standard installation. But they still need the relevant knowledge and training to make sure that heat pumps are designed, installed and commissioned in the right way to ensure they operate most efficiently.
“When it comes to retrofitting, radiators have often already been oversized for the original heat source, which means they don’t necessarily need to be changed, or they can be moved to a smaller room if needed. Many homes built in the 1970s and 1980s were built with microbore pipework, and, whilst these may be unsuitable for low-flow-temperature systems, modern heat pumps are available with high temperature water, which not only reduces installation costs, but can also significantly cut installation time.”
Q: What training options would you suggest for installers to work with heat pumps?
Steve: “The best options for installers who are looking to get started would be to find nearby manufacturer training and system design courses. At Mitsubishi Electric, we help installers really understand the ‘why’ in our courses and introduce them to the concept of ‘value engineering’, which is about finding smarter ways of using technology, recycling resources and making better use of resources.
“I tend to find that installers who leave our classes have a better understanding of how heat pumps operate and they generally say they’re feeling more optimistic about the future of the industry – so, I would definitely say enrol in a course close to you!”
Q: What is your advice to installers who might be reluctant to get into heat pumps?
“I think my biggest piece of advice for installers who are rather reluctant to retrain is that it’s really important to be pragmatic and look further ahead at the wider trajectory of the industry so you can best future-proof your career. This is a fast-moving industry, which as we know is rather competitive.
“However, my advice for people who are at the start or middle of their careers is that heat pumps are on course to replace gas boilers as the dominant heating system in the UK. The technology is ready, but longer-term confidence in the market relies on consistency from the government and incentives to switch. If the government prioritised decoupling the prices of gas and electricity, homeowners could benefit, particularly if policy remains stable.
“I think it is important for installers to look at ongoing trends and follow government announcements closely to best understand how they can add value to their local communities and stay competitive in a fast-moving industry.”
