Meet the Experts: Andrew Johnson, Training and Design Services Director

As Ideal Heating’s Training and Design Services Director, Andrew Johnson plays a key role in shaping heating industry training.

With a career spanning over two decades in engineering, installation and training, he brings a deep understanding of the evolving demands of the sector and the skills heating engineers need to succeed.

Andrew’s journey into the heating industry was influenced by his parents, who ran a heating merchants’ business.

From a young age, he was immersed in the trade, helping in the family business. Although he initially planned to join his parents’ company, he ultimately decided to carve out his own path.

After completing a plumbing and heating apprenticeship at 20 years old, Andrew joined British Gas as a Gas Service Engineer, where he built a strong foundation in the industry. Over the next 19 years, he progressed through the company in a broad range of roles, eventually becoming Training Director.

His decision to join Ideal Heating in 2019 was driven by the huge potential and growth he saw in the company’s training offering, particularly in light of the industries skills shortage - a challenge set to grow with the move to low-carbon technologies.

He saw the opportunity to reinvent the training approach and elevate Ideal’s service proposition, building on its exceptionally strong brand.

Since joining, Andrew has been instrumental in the creation and growth of Ideal Heating’s Expert Academy training arm.

Previously known simply as Ideal Heating Technical Training, the Expert Academy was created to provide a consistent, modern platform that now spans all Groupe Atlantic UK brands.

One of his key priorities was to realign training with current and future customer requirements. This included delivering large scale upskill programmes for installers wishing to transition to heat pump technologies, creating some of the leading training facilities across the UK including thermodynamic and F-gas training facilities, making Ideal the first boiler manufacturer to provide in-house F-Gas training and assessment.

Looking to the future, Andrew sees further growth for Expert Academy, with continued development of physical training locations across the UK. Mobile training solutions are also a priority to provide flexibility and increase reach.

Beyond that, he sees certification requirements becoming increasingly important across the industry, as contractors seek proof of expertise in specific technologies and products.

Outside of work, Andrew enjoys keeping active to offset good restaurants and travel. He also enjoys spending time supporting his son’s martial arts and wife’s Hyrox competitions.

When asked what excites him most about the future of the heating industry, Andrew said: “Advancements in controls technology and artificial intelligence are opening exciting new possibilities in how we design and control heating systems for buildings.

“I see huge potential in these areas that will benefit installers and end users alike. Keeping people informed and educated as technology progresses is critical, and fundamental to what we do”

For those entering the industry, Andrew’s advice is simple: “Embrace lifelong learning and be adaptable. As technology evolves, so too must the skills of engineers - staying ahead of these changes will be key to long-term success.”

To find out more about Ideal’s Expert Academy, visit www.expert-academy.co.uk