A special event was held at the Aira northern headquarters in Halfway, Sheffield to mark the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Aira Skills Academy, bringing together apprentices, retraining engineers, senior leadership, and political leaders to highlight the company’s pivotal role in reshaping the UK’s home heating landscape.

Toby Perkins MP attended the event to hear how the centre is part of Aira’s £300 million investment in the UK. The academy is teaching both apprentices and existing gas engineers who want to retrain as heat pump specialists.

The Academy’s innovative training model was recently honoured by the RNN Group for its cutting-edge approach to climate-friendly education. With the introduction of a new LCL-accredited certification, the centre now offers industry-recognised qualifications in sustainable heating – ensuring graduates leave fully equipped to meet the UK’s growing demand for clean, low-carbon heating solutions.

The Sheffield hub has been recognised as a leading facility after it developed the ‘Good to Great Aero’ programme, Aira’s most successful internal development initiative to date. Designed to unlock potential and enhance productivity, the course has now been rolled out across Aira’s entire European operations.

A new LCL accreditation means that the centre is now able to award their students industry recognised qualifications in the sustainable heating sector. The Aira Skills Academy is designed to equip participants with the skills necessary to meet the growing demand for sustainable heating solutions in the UK.

As one of the UK’s leading heat pump installers, Aira is scaling rapidly with a nationwide network of hubs serving millions of homes across England and Scotland. During the event, Toby Perkins MP spoke with the Aira team about the critical role of heat pumps in lowering household energy bills and tackling climate change, highlighting that home heating still accounts for 16% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions. In 2024, the UK experienced a significant surge in heat pump adoption, with sales of heat pumps reaching around 100,000 units, marking a 63% increase compared to the previous year.

Mr Perkins visit was also an opportunity to discuss how, from 29 May, new planning rules will come into force making it easier to install air source heat pumps in England without the need for planning permission. The UK Government says that heat pumps will play a crucial role in meeting the country’s net zero targets and has targeted 600,000 heat pump installations by 2028. The growth of the industry has been helped by a subsidy scheme for households looking to install a heat pump, including in England and Wales, the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme to help with the costs of upgrading and future proofing British homes.

Sarah Steven’s UK Academy Manager, Aira said: “Building this training centre from the ground up over the past year has been a real challenge – but also one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. We’re not just running courses; we’re shaping the future of the heating industry. It’s incredibly fulfilling to help both apprentices and experienced gas engineers gain the qualifications they need for a high-skill, future-proof career, one that makes a real difference to people’s homes and to the planet.

“An apprenticeship with Aira is a smart, debt-free route into the booming renewables sector. We want people who are hands-on, driven, and genuinely passionate about climate action and low-carbon innovation. This is more than just a job—it’s a mission. And we’re proud to be leading that movement.”

Toby Perkins MP, Chair of the Environment Audit Committee, said: “Aira is making a major contribution to the Yorkshire region—not just through investment in its Skills Academy, but by creating high-quality jobs that are accelerating the rollout of low-carbon heat pumps and strengthening our national energy security.

With over 100,000 full-time roles expected in the heat pump sector by 2035, having a facility like this in our community is a huge asset. It puts North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire at the forefront of the UK’s clean energy transition.

The recent funding boost for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, along with this month’s changes to permitted development rights, removing the need for planning permission to install heat pumps, show that the government is serious about backing this sector.

It’s an exciting time for heat pump technology in the UK, and I look forward to seeing Aira continue to lead the way.”