The £500,000 fund aimed at expanding the skill set of domestic heating engineers to include renewable heating systems has been boosted by an additional £150,000.
This extension was announced by Energy Minister Greg Barker during a visit to Grant Engineering UK in Devizes, Wiltshire.
The scheme, which includes an apprenticeship initiative, has been in high demand from heating engineers and apprentices alike.
Based on the early indications of interest and the number of vouchers already issued, the Department of Energy (DECC) has decided to increase the funding for the scheme in order to further bolster the supply chain in the run up to the launch of the domestic renewable heat incentive.
Barker said: “Giving consumers and installers reliable information is an important part of helping them make decisions about their heating system. With the launch of the domestic renewable heat incentive imminent, it is an important time to ensure that consumers have a range of installers to consult, and that these installers are trained to the very latest standards”.
Griff Thomas of GTEC Training Ltd, which is administering the scheme, commented: “We are delighted that the uptake in vouchers has been so positive and we have seen some great feedback from the industry already, we think the additional funding will make sure that the scheme delivers all of its objectives”.
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