Heat Pump Association welcomes Minister for Energy Consumers at first Annual Reception

On the 27th of November, the Heat Pump Association (HPA) held their first Annual Reception, gathering members and key stakeholders from across the heat pump sector.

The event, held in London followed on from the HPA’s final Full Member Meeting of 2024, and gave the opportunity for industry representatives to network and celebrate collective progress towards decarbonising the UK’s heating sector.

Following a welcome by HPA Chief Executive Charlotte Lee, the audience heard from Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh MP. With her evident enthusiasm for advancing heat decarbonisation and commitment to engaging closely with the industry, her presence was warmly welcomed.

The speeches concluded with HPA Chair, Craig Dolan awarding an Honorary Membership to Graham Wright in recognition of his lasting contributions to the heat pump sector, and an Exceptional Member Contribution Award to Tony Lathey, the HPA’s Technical Working Group Chair for his dedication to the Association.

Reflecting on the event’s success, Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the HPA said:

“The HPA’s first Annual Reception was a brilliant event, providing a platform to celebrate the tremendous progress the sector has made in driving the decarbonisation of the UK’s heating systems. It’s all too easy to dwell on what is still left to do, and whilst we don’t underestimate the challenges ahead, significant progress has been made and there is much to celebrate. It was an honour to welcome Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh MP and to present two awards of recognition and outstanding contributions to our members.”

This year’s reception was made possible by the generous support of our members, and our gold (Kensa, NIBE) silver (Intergas, Jaga, Heatly, City Plumbing) and bronze sponsors (LCL Awards, Correla)

Representatives from key sponsors shared their reflections on the HPA’s first Annual Reception.

Paul Smith, Managing Director at NIBE, commented “I was delighted to take part in what was such a well-attended reception, with representatives from across the heat pump industry, all of whom share NIBE’s passion for the important role heat pumps have to play in decarbonising the UK. It was great to have the opportunity to communicate NIBE’s views on the evolution of heat pumps, including a call to give Exhaust Air Heat Pumps a more prominent role in the low carbon landscape, while addressing key barriers to change and acceleration. I was also pleased to see Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Minister for Energy Consumers at the event; indicative of the government’s support for our sector.” 

Tamsin Lishman, CEO of Kensa, also said “This feels like a hugely optimistic time for the heat transition and our mission to upgrade the nation’s heating. There is a real sense of momentum following the government’s recent Warm Homes Plan announcements and the huge amount of work now underway to deliver on the ground. While net zero is our long-term objective, for households, the need for better, more affordable heating is the absolute priority, and that is where our industry’s focus must be.  It was fantastic to support the HPA’s Annual Reception, showing that the government and the heat pump sector are in lockstep on this, and I look forward to working with the Minister to deliver our goal of better heating for all.”

The 2025 Annual Reception marked a milestone for HPA and highlighted the sector’s continued collaboration and commitment to achieving the UK’s decarbonisation targets.

To find out more about the HPA, its work and its members visit here: https://www.heatpumps.org.uk/

Notes to Editors:

For media inquiries, please contact:

Olivia Smalley

Head of Policy and Communications

Email: Olivia.smalley@thehpa.org.uk

• The number of installers who successfully completed recognised heat pump training course figures from the previous 4 quarters (Q4 2023 and Q1-3 2024), is 8,919. The report indicates that to be on track, the sector needs to train 10, 267 annually which requires a 15% increase in the current training provisio

About the Heat Pump Association:

The HPA is the UK’s dedicated voice for the Heat Pump Sector, driving widespread deployment of heat pump technology throughout the UK. Our membership includes the country’s leading manufacturers of heat pumps, components, and associated equipment as well as energy companies, certification bodies, installers and training providers.  We currently represent over 100 member organisations working in the heat pump sector, with our members representing around 90% of the volume of heat pumps sold in the UK market.