New Heat in Buildings bill announcement overlooks skills and business support
Posted: Thursday, April 24th, 2025
The Scottish and Norther Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF) has raised concerns that the Scottish Government’s announcement on a revised Heat in Buildings Bill failed to address the core challenge of how decarbonisation will be delivered, with no mention of workforce skills, installer training or targeted support for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). This support is crucial, as 80% of heat pump installations are expected to be completed by SME’s. While welcoming the move to more realistic long-term targets and a renewed focus on fuel poverty, SNIPEF said the announcement lacked critical detail on how Scotland will develop the skilled workforce and business capacity required to install low-carbon heating at scale. Fiona Hodgson, chief executive, SNIPEF, said: “We support the government’s intention to move away from immediate restrictions on homeowners and instead focus on national targets. That change of tone is constructive and gives the plumbing and heating profession a clearer signal on the direction of travel. “But today’s announcement is silent on how the work will actually get done. There is no reference to skills, vocational training or business support; yet these are the foundations on which success depends. Without them, we risk setting targets that are simply undeliverable.” SNIPEF, which represents over 700 member firms employing more than 3,500 plumbing and heating professionals, also highlighted the financial strain facing smaller businesses, particularly in relation to rising apprenticeship costs following the significant increase in minimum apprentice wage rates.
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