Students enjoy an inspiring look inside Ideal Heating’s Hull headquarters

We were delighted to open our doors to students from Scarborough TEC, who made the trip from their college to our headquarters in Hull for a morning of exploring what we do and how we do it. The visit gave the 26 further education students a taste of what life looks like inside the UK’s leading heating manufacturer, and a glimpse of the exciting career opportunities that await them in an industry that needs them now more than ever.

A tour of the facilities

Accompanied by their teachers, the students were taken on a guided tour of several key areas across our Hull site. This included a walk through our main production hall, where they saw first-hand how Ideal Heating’s no fault production methods and fully functional testing processes ensure every boiler that leaves our factory meets the highest possible standards.

The group also visited our heat pump facilities, and received an overview of our climate chambers, where testing takes place, demonstrating the state-of-the-art facilities that are central to our ongoing work in low carbon heating technologies.

Throughout the day, students were able to ask questions about apprenticeships at Ideal Heating, and were keen to learn about heat pump training opportunities. We were able to point them in the direction of our Bridgehead site, near the Humber Bridge, home to our National Training and Technology Centre, where we’re re-training installers to install, maintain and service heat pumps.

The students also presented Ideal Heating with a handmade artwork crafted from copper pipe, spelling out the word “Ideal”, a creative touch that made for a memorable keepsake from the visit.

Why visits like this matter

The heating industry is facing a significant challenge. The UK needs 120,000 heat pump engineers by 2030, yet today there are only around 18,000. That gap is substantial, and bridging it will require inspiring the next generation of engineers, technicians and installers to consider a career in our sector.

Ideal Heating Production Director John Cook said:

“Visits like this demonstrate that businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire are actively investing in the future of the industry. We have an outstanding story to tell here, from our manufacturing excellence through to the cutting-edge low carbon technologies we’re developing, and it’s important that students and colleges across the region know what’s available to them.

“Ideal Heating has been part of this community for 120 years, and strengthening relationships with colleges like Scarborough TEC is important in continuing that into the future.”

Bridging the gap between study and industry

Scarborough TEC’s visit has helped to connect students with real-world industry before they enter the workforce. Having seen our operations in action, the students left with a much clearer picture of the pathways open to them, whether through an apprenticeship, a career in manufacturing, or training as a heat pump engineer.

For Ideal Heating, it’s also a valuable opportunity to build and strengthen relationships with colleges and training providers across the wider region. The more young people who know about the opportunities available, the better placed we all are to meet the demands of the energy transition ahead.

We look forward to welcoming Scarborough TEC back in the future, and to continuing to play our part in inspiring the next generation of heating engineers.