Subsidised Training Scheme Puts North East Engineers At The Forefront Of Microrenewable Technology

A heavily subsidised training scheme set up to help drive forward the microrenewables market in the North East is proving to be a success, with 250 engineers having benefitted since its launch.

The targeted scheme, set up by Boldon-based community interest company Community Energy Solutions (CES), which specialises in providing affordable energy solutions to single properties and entire communities across the North East, is designed to help ensure the region has a skilled workforce able to meet the demands of the growing market in microrenewable technologies.

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Run at the Myson Training Centre, Team Valley, in partnership with leading heat industry suppliers Myson, the scheme incorporates a series of one-day courses on Daikin, Heatking and Mitsubishi air source heat pumps (ASHP), which can serve as an alternative to a traditional gas or oil boiler.

ASHPs work virtually like a fridge in reverse, drawing in air from outside the property and using a heat exchanger to transfer the ambient heat to water which can then pumped around the property as conventional central heating to radiators in each room.

Training on the systems, which covers all aspects of installation, service and troubleshooting, is led by the manufacturers’ own trainers and is available at a heavily subsidised rate to engineers from across the North East as part of the CES and Myson partnership which is backed by Daikin, Heatking and Mitsubishi.

Once completed the participating engineer is approved to fit and maintain the heat pumps of each manufacturer whose training they attended, helping them stay ahead of the new advances in technology.

CES chief executive Lynne Edwards said: “By offering subsidised training to engineers in their local area we are able to keep the North East workforce at the forefront of new, greener heating technologies and ensure they are able to able to tackle the risk of climate change and lead the way in developing a low-carbon economy. We are delighted that so many people have already benefitted form the scheme and look forward to helping many more in the future.”

Graeme Gibb of Sunderland-based GGas is the 250^th person to have completed the course since its launch in August 2011 and plans to use his new qualification to help gain MCS accreditation, which certifies that an installer has met rigorous and tested standards in microrenewable technologies, similar to the way the Gas Safe Register (formerly Corgi) covers gas engineers.

Sole trader Graeme, who has worked in the heating and plumping industry for twelve years, said; ”With gas prices going up ever year, green technology is definitely the way forward and this training course from CES and Myson means I’ll be well placed to make the most of it.”

For more information or to apply for a place on the free microrenewable training scheme from CES and Myson, please contact Community Energy Solutions on 0191 537 7200.