{"id":1697,"date":"2026-04-09T08:40:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T08:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/?p=1697"},"modified":"2026-04-09T08:40:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T08:40:58","slug":"new-heat-network-training-centre-will-support-skills-development-in-the-drive-to-net-zero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/?p=1697","title":{"rendered":"New Heat Network Training Centre Will Support Skills Development"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\ufeff<\/p>\n<p><meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no\"><meta http-equiv=\"X-UA-Compatible\" content=\"IE=edge\"><meta name=\"format-detection\" content=\"telephone=no\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><title>New Heat Network Training Centre Will Support Skills Development in the Drive to Net Zero<\/title><meta name=\"description\" content=\"Newly opened \u00a32M training centre in our Blackburn HQ will support heat network skills development and help facilitate UK's net zero ambitions.\"><meta name=\"keywords\" content=\"\"><meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index,follow\"><meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index,follow\"><meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary\"><meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"New Heat Network Training Centre Will Support Skills Development in the Drive to Net Zero\"><meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"\"><meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"website\"><meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/media\/press-releases\/new-heat-network-training-centre-will-support-skills-development-in-the-drive-to-net-zero\/\"><meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New Heat Network Training Centre Will Support Skills Development in the Drive to Net Zero\"><meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"rich-text-case-study rte\">\n<div class=\"wrap rich-text-case-study__wrap\">\n<p><span class=\"rich-text-pumps__text rte__text\">Vital Energi is set to support heat network skills development with the opening of a \u00a32M training centre at its Blackburn HQ.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/district-heating-cooling\/\" title=\"heat networks\">Heat networks<\/a> will play an increasingly important role in meeting the UK\u2019s net zero objectives, with the Minister for State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, Kwasi Kwarteng MP, recently calling for up to \u00a31billion of investment in the industry by 2030.<\/p>\n<p>Gary Fielding, Chairman of Vital Energi, said: \u201cAs a company dedicated to providing sustainable, long-term heat and power solutions, we believe it\u2019s our responsibility to help close the skills gap facing our industry and support the workforce that is set to deliver the UK\u2019s low-carbon future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur new training centre will focus on knowledge sharing and skills development, providing attendees with the necessary tools to support the Government\u2019s heat network expansion plans. We expect the centre will significantly boost the pool of qualified and experienced workers in the industry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a business, we already enable individuals seeking a change of career through training and support packages. We will continue to build on this approach by offering apprenticeships, graduate jobs and forging partnerships with higher education institutions in the communities in which we work. With the development of new skills and formal training, we believe our new facility will be an invaluable resource as we work towards achieving the country\u2019s net zero ambitions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The centre, which is designed to be both Covid-secure and interactive, utilises a multitude of digital tools to allow heat network training to take place amidst current government restrictions. The new 600m2 facility is home to a 60-seater lecture theatre and seminar-style classrooms. It will provide pioneering demonstrative training resources and collaborative programmes, delivered with industry partners including LOGSTOR, which can be carried out both on and offline.<\/p>\n<p>As district heating pipes are buried below ground, it can be challenging to train individuals without visiting a live project. With site visits impacted by the pandemic, Vital Energi has purpose-built two demonstration trenches which will be used to educate students and existing employees about techniques such as jointing and welding pipes, insulation processes and moisture control.<\/p>\n<p>The centre will grow the company\u2019s existing relationship with The City of Liverpool College with additional apprenticeship recruitment, presentations and new product training as well supporting courses at other universities and colleges with practical and theoretical education. The facility will also benefit Vital Energi\u2019s existing employees by supporting engineers and designers with skills development opportunities.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"quote\">\n<div class=\"wrap quote__wrap\">\n<div class=\"swiper-container js-simple-quotes\">\n<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n<div class=\"quote__holder\"><span class=\"quote__icon\"> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"36\" height=\"28\" viewbox=\"0 0 36 28\"><g fill=\"#F58220\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M12.319 0h3.648a2 2 0 0 1 1.838 2.788l-10.286 24A2 2 0 0 1 5.681 28H2.033a2 2 0 0 1-1.838-2.788l10.286-24A2 2 0 0 1 12.319 0zM30.319 0h3.648a2 2 0 0 1 1.838 2.788l-10.286 24A2 2 0 0 1 23.681 28h-3.648a2 2 0 0 1-1.838-2.788l10.286-24A2 2 0 0 1 30.319 0z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg> <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"quote__holder\">\n<p class=\"quote__text\">We are so excited to be working alongside Vital Energi and together we will develop future skills for future jobs. Our partnership is built on the knowledge and skills of Vital Energi\u2019s engineers and the innovative pedagogy of our curriculum leaders at The City of Liverpool College. This new state-of-the-art training centre will play an essential role in developing the science, engineering &amp; digital skills needed to deliver our low-carbon future.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"quote__author\">Sophie Park, <span class=\"quote__position\"> Director of Workforce Skills &#8211; Liverpool College<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tags-social\">\n<div class=\"wrap tags-social__wrap\">\n<div class=\"tags-social__content\">\n<div class=\"tags-social__content-left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/media\/press-releases\/?sector=6a0d7f88-75b1-42b2-afe9-df94362683f6\" class=\"tags-social__tag\">Further education<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tags-social__content-right\"><span class=\"tags-social__social-title\">Share:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=http:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/media\/press-releases\/new-heat-network-training-centre-will-support-skills-development-in-the-drive-to-net-zero\/\" class=\"tags-social__social-link\" target=\"_blank\"> <span class=\"tags-social__icon font-ico-twitter\"><\/span> <\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=http:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/media\/press-releases\/new-heat-network-training-centre-will-support-skills-development-in-the-drive-to-net-zero\/\" class=\"tags-social__social-link\" target=\"_blank\"> <span class=\"tags-social__icon font-ico-linkedin\"><\/span> <\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitalenergi.co.uk\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#28174a474c5115405c5c581207075f5f5f065e415c49444d464d5a4f41064b47065d4307454d4c414907585a4d5b5b055a4d444d495b4d5b07464d5f05404d495c05464d5c5f475a43055c5a49414641464f054b4d465c5a4d055f414444055b5d5858475a5c055b434144445b054c4d5e4d444758454d465c054146055c404d054c5a415e4d055c4705464d5c05524d5a4707\" class=\"tags-social__social-link\" target=\"_blank\"> <span class=\"tags-social__icon font-ico-envelope\"><\/span> <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ufeff New Heat Network Training Centre Will Support Skills Development in the Drive to Net Zero Vital Energi is set to support heat network skills development with the opening of a \u00a32M training centre at its Blackburn HQ. Heat networks will play an increasingly important role in meeting the UK\u2019s net zero objectives, with the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"ve_media_section":[3],"ve_media_year":[],"ve_sector":[],"class_list":["post-1697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","ve_media_section-press-releases"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1697"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1697\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1697"},{"taxonomy":"ve_media_section","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fve_media_section&post=1697"},{"taxonomy":"ve_media_year","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fve_media_year&post=1697"},{"taxonomy":"ve_sector","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitalenergi.creativespark.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fve_sector&post=1697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}