Technical skills

Follow your mentor on a house survey to get your heat loss calculations and system design right.

Install one or more heat pumps with your mentor to gain experience.

Observe and practice how to commission and handover a heat pump.

Soft skills

Get advice on how to quote your customers.

Get advice on how to navigate customer call backs.

Learn how to best manage paperwork to certify your installations.

Business growth

Discuss your business's procurement, where to source materials and get your logistics right.

Get support post-mentoring from Green Economy to grow your business and join their lead generation's network.

What to know

How long is the mentoring? How many hours a week?

The program length can range from one to four months, depending on your availability and whether you've secured customers for heat pump installations. We estimate you'll spend at least one day in-person per installation with your mentor. There will also be time to speak to your mentor outside of this on-site work.

Is the programme free?

Yes. This is a voluntary program for installers who are interested in participating. To help us with the selection process, we'd love to hear about your motivation.

When does mentoring start?

We’re hosting two sessions in early March to kick things off. This is your chance to meet your mentor face-to-face and set the groundwork for the mentoring. We’ll cover the network’s goals, the roadmap for the coming months, and hold an open Q&A to ensure you're fully prepared.

How do you pair participants?

When you register to the pilot, you will answer a series of questions that will help you determine your interests and capacity for the programme. For example if you want to learn more about heat loss calculation, controller set up, or system design. We will use this information to pair you with a mentor that match your needs.

Do I need to find a customer to join?

As part of your heat pump mentoring, you will conduct your own installation with your mentor's support. It is important you secure a customer for that end. However, having a heat pump installation job lined up is not mandatory for the selection. We encourage you to seek leads as soon as possible.

What happens if something goes wrong on the job?

We respect your professional autonomy and your relationship with your customers. The lead engineer on-site always has the final say. During an observation, the mentor takes the lead; when you are heading up your own install, you are in full control of the rules and the site.

What happens if I want to drop out?

You’re free to withdraw at any point if the scheme isn’t working for you. If we can't find a solution to keep you on board, all we ask is for your honest feedback. Your insights are vital to help us refine the program for the rest of the industry.

Can I apply as a mentee if I am already MCS certified?

This program provides the hands-on experience needed to start your heat pump transition. While we expect most participants won’t be MCS-certified yet, we also welcome engineers who are certified but haven’t yet made the leap to live installs. If you're certified but need a confidence boost, get in touch to see how our mentors can help at heatpumpmentoring@nesta.org.uk.

What types of activities will I need to participate in?

This is a new program that we haven't tested yet and would like to offer to installers across the UK. As part of the pilot, you will be expected to:

Join an onboarding session in Manchester or Leeds.
Collaborate on a project with your mentor to gain practical experience.
Secure a customer and receive support from your mentor
Provide feedback on your experience through an interview, for which you will receive a £75 compensation, or by completing a survey sent to all participants.
Optionally, members of our team may accompany some mentor-mentee pairs on their jobs to discuss the program and create video content.

What should you expect from heat pump mentoring?

Technical skills

Soft skills

Business growth

What to know

What should you expect
from heat pump mentoring?