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Heat pump engineer

Alternative titles for this job include Heat pump installer, heat pump technician, low carbon heating technician

Heat pump engineers install and service zero carbon central heating and hot water systems in buildings.

Average salary (a year)

£24,000 Starter

to

£46,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

35 to 43 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends as customers demand

Meet Oliver and Ben

Oliver is a low carbon heating technician apprentice and Ben leads a team of heat pump installers.

1 minute 15 second watch

View transcript

I'm Oliver. I'm doing the Low Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship at Aira.

So it's one day a week at college. And the rest out on site or in the academy. We're learning, we’re shadowing, doing practical bits. Work with the installers. You'd help them if they wanted you to hang a rad [radiator] and pipe it up, whatever. You'll do that. But if they want you to just shadow and learn different ways of doing stuff, you'll learn different ways of doing stuff and make notes for your college work.

So as well as all the low carbon stuff, we're learning all general plumbing skills and then you've got to work with customers. So all your communication skills telling them how the heat pump works, et cetera.

Hi I'm Ben. I'm a team leader of installers in Yorkshire. And we’re here in the Aira Academy in Sheffield.

So I come from a gas background. I’ve been in the heating industry for over 20 years. And then I saw this job advertisement at Aira, got the job as an installer and then got progression into team leader role.

So my day to day role consists of ensuring our network of installers in the Yorkshire area, all the jobs are running smoothly to ensure that they're all completed on time and to a high standard. And then to check in with customers to ensure they're happy with the install.

Starting as apprentice and now as a team leader, it's been a really enjoyable experience. And now moving into the green energy side. You feel like you’re making a difference to the environment.

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Heat pump engineer

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

College

You could take a college course in a related subject like plumbing and heating, or a T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction.

These courses teach you some of the skills you'll need to apply for a trainee plumber, heating and ventilation engineer, or gas service technician position with a company.

Once you've built up your experience, you could take extra training, usually lasting between 3 and 5 days.

This would include:

  • heat pump foundation knowledge
  • low temperature heating and hot water systems
  • individual heat pump technology

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Low Carbon Heating Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship to become a heat pump engineer.

This will take around 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could train as a gas service technician, heating and ventilation engineer or plumber. You could then do additional training to become a heat pump engineer.

Training would cover:

  • low temperature heating and hot water systems
  • heat pump installation and maintainance
  • different types of heat pump technologies

Lots of organisations offer training in heat pump installation. You can search for heat training providers in your local region.

More Information

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Heat Pump Association (HPA) for professional development opportunities.

Further information

You can get more advice on heat pump careers and training from the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE).

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • knowledge of building and construction
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • design skills and knowledge
  • knowledge of maths
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • customer service skills
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a heat pump engineer, you could:

  • install, service and repair low carbon heating and hot water systems
  • find and fix faults
  • follow health and safety requirements
  • decommission heating and hot water systems
  • show customers how to use their new system

We've identified this as a green job

As a heat pump engineer, you'll help customers switch to more energy efficient heating. This can have a positive impact on the environment.

Find out more about green careers

Working environment

You could work at a client's business or at a client's home.

Your working environment may be cramped, at height and you'll travel often.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could move into supervisory and management roles, and be responsible for a team of engineers.

You could also:

  • set up your own business
  • train apprentices
  • teach in a further education college

Find out more about teaching in further education.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Low Carbon Apprentice - Southeast London

  • Wage: Competitive Annually
  • Location: Junction Approach, London

Low Carbon Apprentice - Ipswich

  • Wage: Competitive Annually
  • Location: Burrell Road, Ipswich
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

BPEC Domestic Air Source Heat Pump Installer

  • Provider: ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE
  • Start date: 16 December 2024
  • Location: Abingdon

Diploma in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Systems

  • Provider: UNITED COLLEGES GROUP
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: London
Find courses near you

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