Inside Access: opening the doors to the future of heat pumps

What does the future of heat pumps look like?

That was the question we set out to answer when we welcomed industry leaders, installers and partners to Hull for our first-ever Inside Access event.

Over two days, guests were given exclusive access to our new £20 million UK Technology Centre, our manufacturing operations and the people behind our £60 million investment in low-carbon heating.

The aim wasn’t to deliver a sales pitch.

It was to open the doors and show what the future looks like.

Showing, not telling

Opening the event, our CEO Adam Foy explained that Inside Access was about more than products.

“Today and tomorrow is about showing you what we’re working on, our approach to new products and how we see the next generation unfolding,” he said.

“Importantly, you’ll see the commitment that we’ve made to heat pumps on the site here and in the UK.”

That commitment extends far beyond the product itself, encompassing training, support, service and long-term partnerships with installers and homeowners alike.

A world-class facility in the heart of Hull

The centrepiece of the event was our new UK Technology Centre.

Representing a £20 million investment and forming part of our wider £60 million transformation programme, the 4,000-square-metre facility is home to some of the most advanced testing and development capabilities in the country.

Guests toured acoustic chambers, climate chambers and specialist testing facilities, seeing first-hand how products are subjected to thousands of hours of rigorous testing before reaching customers.

Jason Speedy, Chief Operating Officer, described the facility as “world-class” and “leading in the UK”, reflecting our long-term commitment to innovation and UK manufacturing.

For many visitors, seeing the investment up close brought the scale of our ambitions to life.

Industry leaders impressed by the scale of investment

Among those attending was Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the Heat Pump Association.

“The scale is really difficult to visualise without seeing it in real life. The investment and the growth that has taken place over the last 18 months is really impressive and it definitely shows a commitment to the UK market from Ideal Heating.”

Charlotte also highlighted the importance of supporting installers through the transition to low-carbon heating.

“One of the things I’ve seen Ideal do is invest heavily in supporting installers and making things easier. They’ve got access to an existing network of gas engineers and are investing in educating and upskilling them. Making it easy to fit is fantastic for the market.”

Susanna Salts, Sales and Marketing Director at EDF Heat Pumps, was equally impressed by what she saw.

Having worked with us since the launch of Logic Air, this was her first opportunity to visit Hull and see the operation first-hand.

“The scale, the size and the attention to detail really stood out. The amount of checking that goes into every single heat pump that’s being made was incredibly impressive. Nothing goes through without that quality control.”

Looking at the wider market, Susanna believes investment like this is essential.

“What I’ve seen today, and the future of heat pumps being built in the UK, gives confidence. We need manufacturers to show customers that this is the technology of the future.”

And she believes UK manufacturing remains a major strength.

“Customers still like homegrown. Being designed and manufactured here in the UK is a huge selling point.”

Making heat pumps easier

Throughout the event, discussions focused on one question.

How do we make heat pumps easier?

From training and system design support to practical experience and reducing the barriers facing installers, the message was clear: accelerating the transition to low-carbon heating isn’t just about products. It’s about giving people the confidence and support they need to succeed.

That approach particularly resonated with Paul Spence, one of the UK’s most respected heat pump engineers and industry experts.

“A no-brainer”

Few people understand the realities of heat pump installation better than Paul Spence, one of the UK’s most respected heat pump engineers and industry experts.

After seeing the scale of support available to installers, Paul was enthusiastic.

“It’s a very, very comprehensive set-up. You could come here over a period of a month and learn everything you need, get the certification, gain practical experience and then move into fitting heat pumps with real confidence.”

For Paul, the strength of the approach lies in the way it removes barriers and supports installers every step of the way.

“You’re getting some experience in how to do the job, and that’s much more important than somebody just telling you how to do it in a classroom. You’ve got to actually go and do it.”

He added:

“It’s collaborative. It’s cooperative. It’s helpful. It’s not somebody pressing down on you or threatening you with consequences. It’s people helping you become a proper heating engineer. That’s what it should be.”

Paul believes the support available, combined with training and practical experience, makes the journey into heat pumps far less daunting than many installers imagine.

“It takes the stress and difficulty away. It makes life easy. It’s a no-lose situation for people who want to do it.”

Building confidence for the future

Throughout the event, one theme kept coming up.

Confidence. Confidence in the technology. Confidence in UK manufacturing. Confidence in the support available.

And confidence that, together, our industry can accelerate the transition to low-carbon heating.

For those attending, Inside Access wasn’t simply an opportunity to tour a factory or see a new building.

It was a chance to meet the people behind our investment, experience our world-class facilities and understand how one of Britain’s most trusted heating brands is approaching the future.

Through UK manufacturing, world-class testing facilities and investment in skills and support, we’re building more than heat pumps.

We’re building confidence. For installers. For homeowners. And for the future of heating.

That’s Ideal.