Mitsubishi Electric adds Livingston to heat pump training centres

Mitsubishi Electric says its new training centre in Livingston, Scotland, could revolutionise the training landscape for those working in renewable heating.

The centre at the company’s factory complex was opened on 15 May, with attendees including Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education, and Tadashi Fujiwara, the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh.

More 1,000 people a year can be trained as accredited heat pump installers at the new centre. As well as the hands-on training, Mitsubishi Electric has developed virtual reality training for an innovative way to learn about and understand the workings of heat pumps.

To mark the opening of the Livingston Training Centre, Mitsubishi Electric is offering free training at the centre over the next three months for installers who wish to complete their Part 2, 3 and 5 training in the design and install of Ecodan heat pumps, or who would like to attend a practical, hands-on workshop at the Livingston centre, for all Scottish-registered installation companies.

Russell Dean, residential product group director, says: “There is an urgent need for trained and accredited heat pump installers. Offering hands-on training, including using pioneering VR technology, and based at the Livingston factory complex, the largest manufacturer of heat pumps in the UK, trainees can be fully immersed in the world of heat pumps. They will leave here having developed their skills and advanced their career opportunities to install heat pumps.

“The Livingston Training Centre reaffirms Mitsubishi Electric’s commitment to investing in decarbonised heating and in developing a local workforce to bring about a greener sustainable future.”

Further Education Minister Graeme Dey said: “Clean heat and energy efficiency will be vital in meeting our ambitions to achieve net zero both in Scotland and across the world. As part of this, it is important that the government continues to work collectively with industry, public and private sectors to help scale up the workforce needed to install heat pumps and other clean heating technologies.

Livingston joins the company’s two other training centres in Manchester and Hatfield.