The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has secured a third round of funding from the government for heat network training.
The BESA Academy was appointed by the government to deliver Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) training that underpins regulations due to come into force next year.
It has now established a training pathway to upskill the industry so UK heat networks can meet these new mandatory quality standards.
BESA works in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) which has now committed a third round of funding through its heat training grant. This will fully fund up to 150 free places on the Introduction to Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme course and the soon to be available Installation and Maintenance training.
The announcement of new funding follows a report from Energy UK and the Heat Networks Industry Council which showed that investing £1bn in heat networks now would unlock wider investment of £4bn in these infrastructure projects by the end of the decade.
Heat networks currently provide about 3% of the country’s heating needs but the government predicts that could rise to 20% over the next 25 years. The report suggests that upfront public sector investment will lead to £17bn being invested in UK heat networks by 2035 and £100bn by 2050.
The Introduction to Heat Networks Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) course is the first in a planned series designed to support the new regulations and is available free of charge to workers in England via the BESA Academy’s Online Learning Platform. The programme has already trained more than 800 engineers and clients, including local authorities and housing associations, and this round of funding is available for courses completed by the end of September.
It has been developed with DESNZ and is a pre-requisite for future HNTAS training making it the essential first step for anyone looking to progress their knowledge and competence in this growing market. It is available now (fully funded) and can be accessed here: Introduction to Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme 2026.
“This third round of funding is a significant statement of intent by the government,” said BESA’s director of competence and compliance Jill Nicholls. “HNTAS will be a crucial framework for compliance and better performance. BESA is, therefore, delighted to continue delivering training that will ensure the industry has a fully competent workforce in place when these new rigorous standards come into force.”
She added that the training had been developed to ensure future heat network projects were delivered to higher standards and improve the consumer experience of the technology which she described as “historically patchy”.
A consultation on the new standards was completed earlier this year, and the regulations are due to be phased in gradually starting in 2027. This is designed to give operators time to comply with new mandatory design, installation, and operation rules. The regime will be overseen by the energy regulator Ofgem.
BESA’s training reflects the purpose of HNTAS to enforce mandatory minimum technical standards in place of the existing voluntary codes. The scheme has also been designed to complement the competence requirements established by the Building Safety Act and the Building Regulations, particularly where communal and district systems are part of multi-occupancy developments.
The Association is also leading the development of new Heat Network National Occupational Standards to further underpin professional competence.
The training course explains the rationale behind the scheme. It also covers the structure and elements of heat networks, roles and responsibilities under the new regulations, and how compliance will be assessed and certified. It is aimed at developers, consultants, contractors, operators, and local authorities, as well as anyone involved in the planning, design, or operation of heat networks.
The BESA Academy also provides a Heat Networks Foundation Course covering design, operation and management of heat networks, providing an overall awareness for people already working in the building services industry, either technical or non-technical, who are interested in improving their understanding of the technology.
The course covers basic principles and key components of a heat network including diversified loads, heat interface units (HIUs), water treatment and the basics of thermal insulation for secondary systems.
BESA said its Heat Networks Installation and Maintenance Course would soon be available to further cement the role of heat networks in the government’s long-term built environment decarbonisation strategy under the Heat Network Transformation Programme.
