The construction industry has a major shortage of skills across many areas including plumbers, electricians, bricklayers and carpenters. Kevin Goodison, Conex Bänninger’s regional technical sales manager (Midlands),explores the urgent need for more HVAC apprenticeships.
As the UK pushes towards ambitious housing targets and improved building efficiency, HVAC professionals can a play a key part in this transformation. Innovations like press-fit technology are revolutionising the industry, making installations safer, faster, and more cost-effective. With the right government support and industry initiatives, more young people can be encouraged to pursue HVAC apprenticeships, ensuring a skilled workforce ready to meet future demands.
Rather than following a degree pathway that won’t necessarily guarantee job security, many young people could benefit from entering a field that offers stability, competitive wages, and long-term career growth. Now is the time for the government and industry stakeholders to take action – helping to promote and support the HVAC trade as an attractive and accessible career choice for the next generation.
The HVAC industry has suffered a sharp decline in experienced engineers, with many time-served professionals retiring or nearing retirement. Unfortunately, new recruits are not entering the sector at the rate needed, despite HVAC offering a rewarding and lucrative career path.
Hands-on experience
Conex Bänninger is actively working to bridge this gap by working with colleges and universities across the UK to promote the benefits of press-fit technology and provide hands-on training. In February this year, we hosted a >B< Press training session for gas apprentices enrolled on a 20-month day-release course at Stoke on Trent College in Burslam. These apprentices are working towards their City & Guilds Gas Engineering Level 3 Diploma, a qualification designed for those pursuing careers as gas engineers.
Apprentices gain vital knowledge and hands-on expertise through the course, which explores important topics including gas safety fundamentals, the installation and upkeep of appliances, and crucial training on carbon monoxide awareness and proper ventilation. Stoke-on-Trent College delivers a high-quality apprenticeship programme that effectively blends workplace experience with a well-structured educational framework.
Engaging with young people and introducing them to press-fit technology is always a rewarding experience. For new installers coming into the HVAC industry, press-fit provides an ultra-reliable solution and one that can be taught quickly helping them to become productive members of the workforce within a shorter time-frame.
During the training session, I introduced our >B< Press range, which offers a completely flame-free jointing method suitable for both gas and water applications. This eliminates the need for consumables like gas canisters and flux, enhancing safety and efficiency. >B< Press has a 3-point press which adds peace of mind that joints will be pressed correctly. Press fittings also offer a fast installation time of five seconds and repeatability with each joint. The apprentices had the opportunity to try crimping a joint themselves, an experience they can carry forward into their work environments.
Over the past year, Conex Bänninger has trained more than 100 contractors – either in person at our Birmingham training academy, on-site, or remotely via Teams.
To find out more about training, visit: https://conexbanninger.com/resources/training/
