North Devon College has partnered with heating technology manufacturer Vaillant Group UK to open a specialist heat pump training centre in Barnstaple. The centre gives local installers and young people better access to training in low-carbon heating systems.
The Low Carbon Training Centre, officially opened on 15 September at the Barnstaple campus, is the only Vaillant training centre in the South West beyond Bristol. That means installers and young learners in North Devon no longer have to travel far to train or upskill on Vaillant heat pumps.
The centre, delivered through a strategic partnership with Vaillant, has four training bays with various configurations. They are fitted with the latest air source heat pump technology, including Vaillant’s new aroTHERM plus and Glow-worm’s new GeniaAir. North Devon College is one of only four colleges in the UK partnered with Vaillant, and the only one in the South West, giving engineers across the region access to up-to-date training on the newest equipment close to home.
Through the partnership, the college will deliver specialist heat pump training for existing plumbing and heating professionals. Apprentices at North Devon College will also get direct access to Vaillant and Glow-worm technologies they will use throughout their careers.
North Devon and Torridge are expected to build more than 1,300 new homes a year, and heat pumps are set to replace gas boilers in new builds. The centre will help meet growing regional demand for qualified heat pump installers, assessors and technicians.
Councillor Loki Dawson, Mayor of Barnstaple, formally opened the centre by cutting the ceremonial ribbon. He was joined by John Laramy CBE DL, Group Principal and CEO of the Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group, along with local installers, employers and industry partners.
Guests at the opening event toured the facilities and joined a Q&A on upskilling, funding support and apprenticeships. They also heard from Mike Blakely, Executive Director of Partnerships and Apprenticeships at Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group, and Laura Thomas, Head of Training at Vaillant.
John Laramy CBE DL, Group Principal and CEO of the Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group, said:
“It is an absolute privilege to open the new Low Carbon Training Centre today. It is a brilliant facility, built in partnership with industry and meeting the needs of the community, and this is only the start of our ambition for North Devon College.”
Mike Blakely, Group Executive Director of Partnerships and Apprenticeships, said:
“This is industry and educational partnership on show, with brilliant support from Vaillant, without whom this would not have been possible. The legacy of the work they have done is a futuristic training centre that will support apprenticeships, support industry with specialist training, and help grow the future workforce to close the skills gap we are all so aware of.”
Mayor of Barnstaple, Councillor Loki Dawson, said:
“It’s a proud day for Barnstaple. This is real investment in our local technicians and a great opportunity to expand greener options here in North Devon, without having to travel all the way to Bristol.”
Laura Thomas, Head of Training at Vaillant, said:
“Our partnership with North Devon College, like the one with Exeter College, is a genuine and authentic one. The benefit is not just having the kit in place, but the real expertise and knowledge from Vaillant and their trainers, so that we can support education, whether that is for sixth form students, apprentices, or adults already working in the industry who want to upskill for low carbon. It has been an absolutely fantastic morning.”
Jade Otty, Group Deputy Chief Executive and Senior Lead for North Devon College, said:
“It has been a really successful event. It is great to see industry, installers and the College all come together. This is going to be a game changer for installers in the local area, who no longer have to travel so far. It also shows the level of investment and why engaging with colleges matters. It is a really exciting project to be part of.”
People in the region looking to build a career in low-carbon technologies, whether experienced installers switching from gas or young apprentices just starting out, no longer need to travel far to go further.
North Devon College Opens Low Carbon Training Centre