James Hargreaves opens £500,000 low carbon training centre

James Hargreaves Plumbing Supplies has opened a new £500,000 to help train, upskill and support heating engineers, installers and plumbers from across the UK.

The dedicated Low Carbon Centre, located at the company's headquarters in Burnley, includes a technical workshop with ‘live’ working displays to showcase the latest technology.

A purpose-built training room has been designed to provide the space for installers to obtain the skills and knowledge they need to become part of the UK’s low-carbon future, including domestic air source heat pumps, energy efficiency for domestic heating, water supply regulations, underfloor heating and system design.

The facility is now available to all heating engineers, installers or plumbers, not only existing James Hargreaves customers.

Bill Davies, sales director at James Hargreaves, said: "This is a major step forward for us, a great new facility specifically designed to train heating engineers, installers and plumbers to be best-placed on delivering an efficient and effective low carbon future.

"Low carbon is the future, but it is still new territory for many working in the heating industry, bringing with it many questions and different demands. While these new technologies and associated products provide undoubted business opportunities, they can also lead to nervousness and concern.

"Knowledge is king and our Low Carbon Centre is designed to provide the best information and highest-level training. Customers will get a real feel for all the product options and the chance to examine at close quarters a range of ‘live’ working models from multiple manufacturers."

The centre also features collaborations with a number of global manufacturers and will incorporate a Daikin Sustainable Home Centre.

Iain Bevan, commercial manager for heating and renewables at Daikin UK, added: "We’re delighted to have partnered with James Hargreaves in opening a Daikin Sustainable Home Centre within their site, featuring a Daikin showroom and air source heat pump training centre.

“Being able to explore and discuss heat pump technology and the significant cost savings they offer in person is vital, as is knowing that it will be installed by a highly trained professional - and that’s what our Sustainable Home Centres are all about. We’re confident that together we can make a significant contribution towards our national net zero targets."