In January, the government unveiled its Warm Homes Plan, a £15bn initiative which aims to help families cut energy bills, transition to cleaner heating alternatives and tackle fuel poverty. 

As part of the project, up to 5 million homes will be upgraded, in what the government says is a ‘vital next step in addressing the long-term issue of energy affordability for the country.’ Of the funds, £5bn has been earmarked for low-income households, which will receive free upgrades using technologies best suited to the properties. 

Elsewhere, a zero and low-interest loans programme looks to encourage solar panel installation, with new rules meaning every new home will come with solar panels by default. Similarly, a £7,500 universal grant is available to drive the adoption of heat pumps in homes across the country. 

The Plan also includes new protections for those living in rented properties, placing onus on landlords to ensure homes are safe, warm and affordable, and providing support for necessary upgrades to be made. 

So, how does this impact tradespeople? 

The Warm Homes Plan will no doubt have a major impact on tradespeople, with demand for green skills set to surge in the upcoming months and years. In particular, electricians, plumbers and gas engineers — all trades already in high demand — will hold a vital role if Labour is to meet the ambitious targets.

In total, the government predicts that 180,000 additional ‘high-quality, well-paid, future-proofed jobs in energy efficiency and clean heating’ will be created by 2030.  

Whether it’s installing entirely new heating systems, retrofitting and upgrading existing ones, fitting solar panels in new and old properties, or simply lending expertise and advice to homeowners, the Warm Homes Plan looks set to translate to an incredibly busy, and potentially lucrative, period ahead for tradespeople with knowledge of green technologies. 

The areas which will be covered under government schemes include: 

  • Solar panels (Photovoltaic and thermal)
  • Heat pumps (ground source, air source, including air-to-air
  • Home and heat batteries
  • Smart controls
  • Insulation (wall, floor, and roof)
  • Draught proofing

Upskilling for the future

Understandably, a shift towards these lower-carbon technologies might cause concern for tradespeople with ‘traditional’ skill sets that haven’t yet trained in any of the above areas. 

However, given that significant portions of these existing skill sets are directly transferable to these modern alternatives, getting up to speed may not take as long as you think.  

To help cope with the demand for upskilling, last year the government announced the Warm Home Skills Programme (WHSP), which delivered 9,000 subsidised training opportunities for installers and retrofit professionals. 

In the Warm Homes Plan, the government says it has allocated £7m per annum to the Heat Training Grant from 2026 to 2029, alongside continued support for fabric and solar installation under the WHSP. The plan also highlights how a Warm Homes Plan Taskforce, alongside the Trades Union Congress (TUC), will support workers in transitioning to roles in low-carbon sectors. 

You can read more about the Warm Homes Plan here.