Warm homes, skilled workers: key announcements every training centre should know
14 May 2025
The government’s recent announcements represent a significant boost for skills development across the low-carbon heating and retrofit sector. Three key initiatives - the Warm Homes Skills Programme, the extension of the Heat Training Grant (including support for heat networks), and a consultation on expanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme - offer fresh opportunities for installers and therefore LCL Awards approved centres.
In this blog, we’ll explain each initiative and what it could mean for your training centre.
Warm Homes Skills Programme
The UK government launched The Warm Homes Skills Programme in April 2025, allocating £8 million to subsidise up to 9,000 training places for installers and retrofit professionals across England, aiming to develop a skilled workforce capable of deploying energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon heating solutions in both domestic and non-domestic buildings.
Financial support is available for training providers through a competitive process to offer both accredited and non-accredited Ofqual-registered courses. Part of the broader Warm Homes Plan, this branch seeks to upgrade the UK's housing stock, reduce energy bills and contribute to the nation's net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.
The training is structured into four ‘work packages’:
- Fabric insulation & solar panel installation
- Skills for working on non-domestic buildings
- Retrofit assessor & retrofit coordinator qualifications (PAS 2035/2038)
- Shorter entry-level courses for those new to retrofit
The Competition is open to training providers in England who can demonstrate previous relevant experience in delivering training that aligns with one or more of the four work packages listed above.
For training centres, this programme offers an avenue to secure subsidised delivery for existing domestic retrofit courses - particularly PAS 2035/2038 qualifications - and to design new entry-level or specialist modules (e.g. solar PV installation). Centres offering qualifications in domestic retrofit, solar PV and heat pumps can expect growing interest from individuals and employers looking to upskill and take advantage of the growing market.
The deadline for applications is midday on 6th June 2025. You can read the competition guidance and find out how to apply here.
Heat Training Grant Extension (including Heat Networks)
Also announced 30 April 2025, the government is extending the Heat Training Grant to March 2026 with an additional £5 million. This top-up will support:
- 5,500 more heat pump installers
- 3,500 more heat network professionals, covering various aspects of heat network systems, including design, installation and maintenance
If you deliver or are considering delivering the Level 3 Award in Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Systems in Dwellings or our Heat Pump qualifications, now is the time to take advantage of the extended grant funding. Consider working with local authorities or businesses who may want to sponsor candidates.
Heat Networks
While the Skills Programme focuses heavily on domestic retrofit and heat pumps, both it and the Heat Training Grant explicitly include training for heat network professionals. As heat network zoning and regulation roll out, there will be growing demand for qualified designers, installers and maintenance engineers.
Some centres may already offer heat network qualifications - this is an area LCL Awards is looking into, so watch this space!
To check if you are eligible and to find out more click here.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme Consultation
Additionally, the UK government has launched a consultation to enhance the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), aiming to make low-carbon heating more accessible and appealing to a broader range of households.
The consultation is open until 11 June 2025 and seeks input on several proposed changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS):
● Expanded technology eligibility: Inclusion of additional low-carbon heating options such as air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries, beyond the current offerings of air and ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers.
● Flexible ownership models: Introduction of alternative financing options like leasing and subscription models for heat pumps, allowing homeowners to pay in manageable monthly instalments rather than upfront costs.
● Simplified grant process: Implementation of upfront grant dedications by installers at the point of sale, streamlining the financial process for consumers.
● Certification standardisation: Proposal to designate the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) as the sole certification body for clean heat installations under BUS and related programmes, ensuring quality and consumer protection.
You can learn more about the consultation - and have your say - here.
The outcomes of the BUS consultation will potentially broaden the technologies installers are looking to train in, while increasing consumer demand for low carbon heating, so make sure you have your say!
Next steps for LCL Awards approved centres
- Bid early for skills funding: Prepare competitive applications for both the Warm Homes Skills Programme and Heat Training Grant before their respective deadlines (6 June and ongoing for Heat Training Grant registrations).
- Update course offerings: Ensure your portfolio covers all relevant low-carbon heating technologies, including new heat network modules and potential BUS-eligible systems when they become available.
- Strengthen partnerships: Consider collaborating with local authorities, housing providers and industry bodies to align your courses with real-world retrofit and heat network projects.
- Engage with policy: Have your say in the BUS consultation to advocate for a broader range of technologies eligible for funding.
The latest announcements reinforce a clear government direction: decarbonising homes is a priority, and a skilled workforce is essential to achieving that goal. For LCL Awards centres, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
By aligning your training programmes with these initiatives and actively promoting the funding available, your centre can play a vital role in the UK’s low-carbon transition – while also supporting learners in building future-proof careers.
The government’s recent announcements represent a significant boost for skills development across the low-carbon heating and retrofit sector. Three key initiatives - the Warm Homes Skills Programme, the extension of the Heat Training Grant (including support for heat networks), and a consultation on expanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme - offer fresh opportunities for installers and therefore LCL Awards approved centres.
In this blog, we’ll explain each initiative and what it could mean for your training centre.
Warm Homes Skills Programme
The UK government launched The Warm Homes Skills Programme in April 2025, allocating £8 million to subsidise up to 9,000 training places for installers and retrofit professionals across England, aiming to develop a skilled workforce capable of deploying energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon heating solutions in both domestic and non-domestic buildings.
Financial support is available for training providers through a competitive process to offer both accredited and non-accredited Ofqual-registered courses. Part of the broader Warm Homes Plan, this branch seeks to upgrade the UK's housing stock, reduce energy bills and contribute to the nation's net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.
The training is structured into four ‘work packages’:
- Fabric insulation & solar panel installation
- Skills for working on non-domestic buildings
- Retrofit assessor & retrofit coordinator qualifications (PAS 2035/2038)
- Shorter entry-level courses for those new to retrofit
The Competition is open to training providers in England who can demonstrate previous relevant experience in delivering training that aligns with one or more of the four work packages listed above.
For training centres, this programme offers an avenue to secure subsidised delivery for existing domestic retrofit courses - particularly PAS 2035/2038 qualifications - and to design new entry-level or specialist modules (e.g. solar PV installation). Centres offering qualifications in domestic retrofit, solar PV and heat pumps can expect growing interest from individuals and employers looking to upskill and take advantage of the growing market.
The deadline for applications is midday on 6th June 2025. You can read the competition guidance and find out how to apply here.
Heat Training Grant Extension (including Heat Networks)
Also announced 30 April 2025, the government is extending the Heat Training Grant to March 2026 with an additional £5 million. This top-up will support:
- 5,500 more heat pump installers
- 3,500 more heat network professionals, covering various aspects of heat network systems, including design, installation and maintenance
If you deliver or are considering delivering the Level 3 Award in Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Systems in Dwellings or our Heat Pump qualifications, now is the time to take advantage of the extended grant funding. Consider working with local authorities or businesses who may want to sponsor candidates.
Heat Networks
While the Skills Programme focuses heavily on domestic retrofit and heat pumps, both it and the Heat Training Grant explicitly include training for heat network professionals. As heat network zoning and regulation roll out, there will be growing demand for qualified designers, installers and maintenance engineers.
Some centres may already offer heat network qualifications - this is an area LCL Awards is looking into, so watch this space!
To check if you are eligible and to find out more click here.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme Consultation
Additionally, the UK government has launched a consultation to enhance the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), aiming to make low-carbon heating more accessible and appealing to a broader range of households.
The consultation is open until 11 June 2025 and seeks input on several proposed changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS):
● Expanded technology eligibility: Inclusion of additional low-carbon heating options such as air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries, beyond the current offerings of air and ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers.
● Flexible ownership models: Introduction of alternative financing options like leasing and subscription models for heat pumps, allowing homeowners to pay in manageable monthly instalments rather than upfront costs.
● Simplified grant process: Implementation of upfront grant dedications by installers at the point of sale, streamlining the financial process for consumers.
● Certification standardisation: Proposal to designate the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) as the sole certification body for clean heat installations under BUS and related programmes, ensuring quality and consumer protection.
You can learn more about the consultation - and have your say - here.
The outcomes of the BUS consultation will potentially broaden the technologies installers are looking to train in, while increasing consumer demand for low carbon heating, so make sure you have your say!
Next steps for LCL Awards approved centres
- Bid early for skills funding: Prepare competitive applications for both the Warm Homes Skills Programme and Heat Training Grant before their respective deadlines (6 June and ongoing for Heat Training Grant registrations).
- Update course offerings: Ensure your portfolio covers all relevant low-carbon heating technologies, including new heat network modules and potential BUS-eligible systems when they become available.
- Strengthen partnerships: Consider collaborating with local authorities, housing providers and industry bodies to align your courses with real-world retrofit and heat network projects.
- Engage with policy: Have your say in the BUS consultation to advocate for a broader range of technologies eligible for funding.
The latest announcements reinforce a clear government direction: decarbonising homes is a priority, and a skilled workforce is essential to achieving that goal. For LCL Awards centres, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
By aligning your training programmes with these initiatives and actively promoting the funding available, your centre can play a vital role in the UK’s low-carbon transition – while also supporting learners in building future-proof careers.