Vaillant showcases production facility following £15bn Warm Homes Plan launch

Heating tech giant Vaillant has been showcasing its heat pump production facility following the launch of the Government’s Warm Homes Plan.

The manufacturer recently welcomed Climate Minister Katie White OBE to its UK heat pump production facility at Belper.

Renewable technologies, including heat pumps, are seen as critical to delivering more energy-efficient, low-carbon homes and are a central pillar of the Warm Homes Plan.

The scheme includes £5 billion earmarked for home upgrades, alongside grants of up to £7,500 to support households transitioning from gas boilers to heat pumps.

Katie White said: “Our Warm Homes Plan will deliver £15 billion of public investment, roll out upgrades to up to five million homes that could save them hundreds on energy bills and help lift up to a million families out of fuel poverty by 2030.

“It was fantastic to meet the apprentices and technicians at Vaillant’s heat pump factory in Belper. These are the good clean energy jobs that are driving forward our Warm Homes Plan and Britain’s clean energy revolution.”

Henrik Hansen, managing director of Vaillant UK and Ireland, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Katie White to our heat pump production facility in Belper.

“The announcement of the Warm Homes Plan reinforces the critical role renewable technologies play in the UK’s clean energy transition.”

During her visit, Katie toured Vaillant’s heat pump production line, which opened in 2021 and has been supplying the UK market for the past five years.

She witnessed the manufacturing line in operation and discussed future plans with Vaillant’s senior management team, focusing on how production capacity can continue to scale in line with the rollout of the Warm Homes Plan nationwide.

Recognising the importance of workforce skills to a successful transition to low-carbon heating, the MP also met with a number of Vaillant’s apprentices, including their Low Carbon Heating Apprentices, Engineering Apprentices and Business Apprentices.

She learned more about their training and development pathways and answered questions on the future of heating and the vital role of apprenticeships in building the skills pipeline.

Last year, Vaillant officially opened a £40 million manufacturing plant for heat pump cylinders in Derby, creating 200 jobs.

The plant, at Indurent Park Derby, produces high recovery hot water cylinders.

The firm has also built a strategic partnership with Derby College Group to help provide the skills needed to support the decarbonisation of heat.

Henrik said: “Heat pumps, alongside other solutions, will be central to improving home energy efficiency and helping to keep energy bills down.

“It was interesting to have the opportunity to further discuss what the plan intends to achieve.

“Vaillant is at the forefront of UK manufacturing’s response to the clean energy transformation, supplying heat pump solutions at scale to meet market demand and consumer expectations.

“It was also encouraging to see Katie White engage with our apprentices, who represent the skilled workforce required to deliver the ambitions of the Warm Homes Plan in the years ahead.”