Expert Academy: Celebrating a record-breaking 2024 and looking ahead to 2025

As we step into 2025, we’ve taken some time to reflect on an extraordinary 2024 for the Ideal Heating Expert Academy before confirming our exciting plans for the year ahead.

Reflecting on 2024, I’m delighted with the milestones we reached and what our amazing team achieved. We opened fantastic new facilities, hosted some great events, and, most importantly, trained a significant number of installers and industry partners to be part of the heating industry’s low-carbon future.

Here are some numbers that stood out to me:

• We trained well over 3,000 people through our in-person courses, with many gaining new qualifications and everyone taking away valuable knowledge and skills.

• We substantially increased our UK training locations to over 30, with 12 of those opening during 2024. All locations provide courses delivered by our Expert Academy team.

• 94% of installers rated their training experience as 5 out of 5 (the other 6% mainly suggested we serve chips with lunch – we’re working on it!).

• We won three separate industry awards and we’ve been shortlisted for three more in the Heating & Plumbing Monthly (HPM) Awards.

These numbers represent more than just statistics – they’re a testament to our commitment to supporting installers and our industry, particularly as we transition to renewable heating solutions.

One highlight of this commitment came in November, when we welcomed Miatta Fahnbulleh, Minister for Energy Consumers, to our National Training and Technology Centre in East Yorkshire.

Her visit marked the significant £5.2m Government funding we received through the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator competition, which aims to supercharge the UK’s heat pump market.

With this funding, and an additional £6.8m pledged by Ideal Heating and Gledhill, we are investing over £12m in heat pump production and controls.

During the visit, we showcased to the Minister how this investment will support the decarbonisation of heating and how our courses prepare installers to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry.

Building on our record-breaking achievements in 2024, we’re setting our sights even higher for 2025. The heating industry is evolving rapidly, and our mission remains the same: to empower installers with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a low-carbon future.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming:

Expert Academy On Demand: We’re launching a new initiative that will allow heating professionals to access training anytime, anywhere, offering greater flexibility and convenience.

Expanding our training portfolio: We’re developing new courses focused on renewable technologies and system design, ensuring installers are fully prepared for the growing demand for low-carbon solutions.

More partnerships and events: We’ll continue to collaborate with key industry bodies and host events designed to share best practices and innovations.

As we move towards increased adoption of renewable technologies, we’re not just providing products—we’re offering comprehensive support and expertise to ensure installers are fully equipped for the future of heating.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey so far. I’m consistently impressed as to how many people in our industry invest in their own development and choose us to support them along the way.

Here’s to more training, more innovation, and more milestones in 2025! Thank you.