Ideal Heating launches first UK heat pump production line at Hull site as part of £60m net zero drive

The business is now undergoing a major transformation as it begins to engineer green heating solutions to support the UK’s drive to net zero.

Shaun Edwards, CEO of Groupe Atlantic UK, Republic of Ireland and North America, which owns Ideal Heating, said: “The transition to low carbon heating solutions including heat pumps is the biggest transformation in the business since we moved from coal to gas-fired boilers in the 1930s.

“The major investments we’re making at our Hull site send out a very clear signal about our commitment to the net zero transition and to re-modelling our business to meet the needs of our customers today and into the future.

“For decades the name Ideal has been associated with boilers and other market-leading heating products. With the start of heat pump production and the many other investments we’re making, we’re now pushing strongly forward with renewable technologies that will play an ever-growing role in heating the UK’s homes and commercial premises.”

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Gr een Finance, visited Ideal Heating’s Hull factory to mark the start of heat pump production by the company in the UK.

The new heat pump production line forms part of a £60 million investment programme at the Hull site, which includes an expanded distribution hub, a research and development centre to pioneer the heating technologies of the future, and a heat pump manufacturing facility.

Ideal Heating has also invested more than £2 million in a flagship training centre in Hessle, East Yorkshire – one of the heating industry’s largest training facilities and where up to 5,000 installers every year.

Ideal Heating has a 800-strong workforce in Hull – the majority in manufacturing roles – with a total of around 1,500 employed across the UK by the company and its sister businesses.

A huge decarbonisation of housing stock must take place for the UK to achieve net zero status by 2050, as homes account for more than a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions.

The Government has set an target for 600,000 heat pumps to be installed in the UK every year by 2028, which will require thousands more skilled and qualified low carbon engineers.

Ideal Heating has also invested in its new National Training and Technology Centre which provides a learning environment for both existing installers looking to upskill and new entrants to the industry.

Jason Speedy, Chief Operations Officer at Ideal Heating, said: “Backed by our parent company Groupe Atlantic, we’re excited to be investing massively in our site in Hull, and to establish our new training centre, as we diversify our product portfolio and continue to innovate new technologies.”

Last year, Ideal Heating created around 100 jobs throught the year.

The firm was founded in Hull as the National Radiator Company in 1905.

The company was purchased by French firm Groupe Atlantic in 2015 for an undiscolsed sum.