May 20, 2024
About the Start at Home project
This joint SNIPEF/Nesta project is designed to help members enter into the renewable home heating marketplace by providing free training and, for selected participants, a heat pump for installation in their own homes. This offers members a practical and cost-effective way to gain the needed skills and firsthand experience and satisfy the MCS certification’s requirement for a first installation.
What’s on offer
- Free training: We are offering 40 SNIPEF members the opportunity to receive free heat pump installation training.
- Free heat pump for your home: Twenty SNIPEF members will also receive a heat pump for their homes at no cost, enhancing their practical understanding of this technology.
- Support with additional costs: Grants from Home Energy Scotland and the Energy Savings Trust may cover the costs associated with the heat pump installation and MCS certification.
Eligibility Guide
While the following criteria are our standard for participation, we encourage those who do not fully meet these requirements but are interested in the project to apply as well. We are open to considering a range of participants:
- You must be a SNIPEF member based in Scotland.
- Your business should employ no more than 8 employees (negotiable) .
- Your business is not MCS-certified.
- You have not previously installed or led a heat pump installation.
- You must be available to attend a BPEC/LCL accredited Level 3 Award course during the summer.
- To qualify for a free heat pump, you must own a home that is suitable for a heat pump installation and be able to complete the installation by the final deadline of November 2024.
- You must agree to participate in the entire project research study.
Why Get Involved
Participating in this project will not only help you meet the MCS certification’s requirement for a first installation but also deepen your understanding of heat pump technology. This will empower you to effectively communicate its benefits to customers, positioning your business for substantial growth in the rapidly expanding market for renewable home heating.
We believe this project will deliver significant professional and personal benefits while contributing to advancing Scotland's renewable energy objectives. This is a unique opportunity that we highly encourage you to take advantage of.
For more information, contact Richard Campbell at richard.campbell@snipef.org or 07710 542 381. The closing date for Expression of Interest is 1 June.
