https://thejobsheet.co.uk The Job Sheet curates the week's most important UK gas and heating news — heat pumps, boiler grants, Building Regulations, training and compliance — for plumbers and heating engineers. New stories every Friday. en-GB https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/news/energy-uk-responds-to-october-price-cap/ https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/news/energy-uk-responds-to-october-price-cap/ 2026-08-28 Ofgem confirmed a 4% October price cap rise to £1,723, and Energy UK's Ned Hammond warns this intensifies the challenge for customers already struggling with record debt. Installers will be fielding worried questions this winter, and the call for a social discount scheme is getting louder. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/electric/are-energy-bills-capped-at-1723-five-costly-myths-you-need-to-know https://www.installeronline.co.uk/electric/are-energy-bills-capped-at-1723-five-costly-myths-you-need-to-know 2026-08-28 The £1,723 figure is not a fixed bill, not a ceiling, and not universal — it's a typical-use illustration that varies wildly by household. A handy myth-buster for engineers to share with customers who think the cap means they're protected. https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/news/energy-debt-hits-6-billion/ https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/news/energy-debt-hits-6-billion/ 2026-08-28 UK domestic energy debt has doubled in three years to hit £6bn, with 3 million customers in arrears and the average owed sitting at £1,800. Bad-debt costs already add ~£50 to every dual-fuel bill under the price cap, and if debt reaches £7bn by year-end, that rises further. https://phamnews.co.uk/over-80-of-tradespeople-generate-work-through-social-media/ https://phamnews.co.uk/over-80-of-tradespeople-generate-work-through-social-media/ 2026-08-28 A Markel Direct survey found 84% of UK tradespeople get at least some business via social platforms, with 59% saying it boosted sales. But only 39% have insurance covering social-media legal risks, and nearly one in five admit posting client work without permission. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/futures/we-spent-thirty-years-telling-kids-not-to-do-this-job-now-nobody-can-fix-the-boiler-opinion/ https://www.installeronline.co.uk/futures/we-spent-thirty-years-telling-kids-not-to-do-this-job-now-nobody-can-fix-the-boiler-opinion/ 2026-08-28 Powered Now CEO Benjamin Dyer argues the skills crisis was entirely self-inflicted: decades of pushing kids toward degrees and desks have left the average gas engineer nearing retirement with almost nobody behind them. His data shows the most common reason tradespeople leave his platform isn't switching to a competitor — it's retirement, with no younger version of themselves to hand the tools to. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/uk-heat-pump-sales-rise-27-in-2025-hpa-uk-data-reports https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/uk-heat-pump-sales-rise-27-in-2025-hpa-uk-data-reports 2026-08-28 Over 125,000 heat pumps were sold in the UK last year, with 36% manufactured domestically. Growth is solid but slowing — to hit the government's 450,000-per-year target by 2030, the market needs 33% compound annual growth from here. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/boiler-upgrade-scheme-grant-raised-to-9000-for-oil-and-lpg-heating-system-replacement https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/boiler-upgrade-scheme-grant-raised-to-9000-for-oil-and-lpg-heating-system-replacement 2026-08-28 A £1,500 uplift takes the BUS grant to £9,000 specifically for oil and LPG-heated homes switching to heat pumps, aimed at rural households hammered by the Middle East crisis. Worth noting for installers quoting off-grid conversions, though OFTEC points out the total switching cost still hovers near £20,000. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/the-clean-heat-market-mechanism-is-policing-a-missing-market https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/the-clean-heat-market-mechanism-is-policing-a-missing-market 2026-08-28 Worcester Bosch's Martyn Bridges lays out the numbers: Q1 2026 retrofit heat pump installs were just 10,693 — down 18% on the previous quarter and 22% year-on-year. With CHMM quotas set at 8% of boiler sales (~100,000 heat pumps) and retrofit running at ~3,500/month, manufacturers face a £27m penalty shortfall while the BUS budget sits £150m underspent. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/what-will-happen-to-the-gas-network-as-the-uk-transitions-to-low-carbon-heat https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/what-will-happen-to-the-gas-network-as-the-uk-transitions-to-low-carbon-heat 2026-08-28 Alpha's Darran Smith maps the long-term fate of the UK's 280,000km gas grid. As customers switch to electric-only heating and stop paying gas standing charges, Ofgem estimates network charges for remaining gas customers could hit 40p/kWh by 2050 — making hybrid heat pumps a compelling bridge technology for homes that can't go all-electric. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/training/bosch-commercial-industrials-hiu-training-now-leads-to-a-lcl-awards-level-3-qualification https://www.installeronline.co.uk/training/bosch-commercial-industrials-hiu-training-now-leads-to-a-lcl-awards-level-3-qualification 2026-08-28 Bosch Commercial & Industrial's heat interface unit course is now an LCL Awards Level 3 qualification, covering installation, commissioning, and fault-finding under HNTAS standards. Next course runs 23rd September — timely as heat network installs ramp up. https://phamnews.co.uk/online-technical-hub-for-installers-on-the-job/ https://phamnews.co.uk/online-technical-hub-for-installers-on-the-job/ 2026-08-28 Copper tube supplier Lawton Tubes overhauled its website into a mobile-friendly technical hub with pipe sizing calculators, 3D product models, and installation guides. Aimed squarely at younger installers who expect info instantly on their phone. https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/gassafetyweek https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/gassafetyweek 2026-08-28 Gas Safety Week runs 14–20 September under the 'Take No Chances' banner, a ready-made hook for engineers to promote annual servicing and safety checks to customers ahead of heating season. https://www.adaptgas.com/blog/gas-safety-compliance-2026 https://www.adaptgas.com/blog/gas-safety-compliance-2026 2026-08-28 CP42 certification now covers all gas appliances — cookers, direct-fired heaters, and water heaters — not just boilers. Buildings with 5+ appliances now require quarterly inspections, and all records must be digital and HSE-submitted. Fines run £500–£5,000 per violation. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/edf-heats-up-1000-price-cut-on-heat-pumps https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/edf-heats-up-1000-price-cut-on-heat-pumps 2026-08-28 EDF is offering a limited-time £1,000 heat pump savings package on Daikin and Ideal units, plus a free 7-year service and warranty. With the BUS grant applied, an air source heat pump starts from £4,144 — a conversation starter for installers quoting against gas replacements. https://www.viessmann.co.uk/en/latest-news.html https://www.viessmann.co.uk/en/latest-news.html 2026-08-28 Viessmann's two new-generation R290 monobloc air-source heat pumps are aimed squarely at boiler replacement in UK homes, co-developed with UK installers. Part of the Carrier Solutions stable alongside Toshiba and Carrier brands. https://www.daikin.eu/en_us/press-releases/daikin-introduces-x-series.html https://www.daikin.eu/en_us/press-releases/daikin-introduces-x-series.html 2026-08-28 Daikin's X Series fuses air-to-air and air-to-water into a single outdoor unit handling heating, cooling, and hot water for homes up to 150m². Rolling out across Europe from September 2026 — a glimpse of where integrated residential HVAC is heading. https://phamnews.co.uk/new-digital-rewards-programme-from-carrier-solutions/ https://phamnews.co.uk/new-digital-rewards-programme-from-carrier-solutions/ 2026-08-28 A unified rewards-and-training portal covering Toshiba, Carrier, and Viessmann brands with tiered Silver/Gold/Platinum levels. Points redeemable for tools, training, and experiences. https://www.hpmmag.com/news/lcl-awards-announces-its-2026-trainee-of-the-year https://www.hpmmag.com/news/lcl-awards-announces-its-2026-trainee-of-the-year 2026-08-28 Carly Gayle, a Baxi F-Gas engineer and former plumbing business owner, took the top prize. A great story for promoting women in the trades at a time when the industry desperately needs fresh blood. https://www.hpmmag.com/news https://www.hpmmag.com/news 2026-08-28 A feel-good industry note: water-treatment maker Fernox handed £10k to a Surrey hospice. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/uk-heat-pump-sales-rise-27-in-2025-hpa-uk-data-reports https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/uk-heat-pump-sales-rise-27-in-2025-hpa-uk-data-reports 2026-08-27 UK heat pump installations jumped 27% in 2025, according to new data from the Heat Pump Association, as the market keeps accelerating. Installers who can confidently spec and fit heat pumps are increasingly in demand — the low-carbon skills gap is now the main bottleneck. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/the-clean-heat-market-mechanism-is-policing-a-missing-market https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/the-clean-heat-market-mechanism-is-policing-a-missing-market 2026-08-27 Boiler sales are on track to hit 1.3 million units in 2026, yet the Clean Heat Market Mechanism's heat-pump quota still targets a market that hasn't materialised. That mismatch leaves manufacturers facing penalties for products nobody's buying, and the cost is likely to filter down to installers and their customers. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/boiler-upgrade-scheme-grant-raised-to-9000-for-oil-and-lpg-heating-system-replacement https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/boiler-upgrade-scheme-grant-raised-to-9000-for-oil-and-lpg-heating-system-replacement 2026-08-27 The government has added a £1,500 uplift to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, taking the grant for oil and LPG-heated homes to £9,000. It's a bigger incentive to quote on rural conversions, where off-grid households switching to heat pumps can now cover a larger slice of the install cost. https://phamnews.co.uk/oil-boiler-ban-would-be-a-vote-loser-says-eua https://phamnews.co.uk/oil-boiler-ban-would-be-a-vote-loser-says-eua 2026-08-27 New polling commissioned by the Energy and Utilities Alliance suggests the proposed oil boiler ban could cost sitting MPs votes at the next election. The finding underlines how politically fragile off-grid heating policy remains — and why installers shouldn't bank on the ban timeline holding. https://phamnews.co.uk/what-does-the-2026-heating-landscape-look-like-for-installers https://phamnews.co.uk/what-does-the-2026-heating-landscape-look-like-for-installers 2026-08-27 Vokèra's Neil Mattock maps the year ahead: gas boiler replacements stay the core of the market, but installers who diversify into heat pumps are best placed to win. With the Boiler Upgrade Scheme budget doubled to £295m and a £7,500 grant on offer, the commercial case for upskilling has never been clearer. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/what-will-happen-to-the-gas-network-as-the-uk-transitions-to-low-carbon-heat https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/what-will-happen-to-the-gas-network-as-the-uk-transitions-to-low-carbon-heat 2026-08-27 Alpha's Darran Smith walks through the long-term future of the UK gas grid as the country shifts to low-carbon heat. It's a useful read for engineers planning the next decade of their business — understanding where the gas network is heading will shape which skills pay off. https://upkeep.co.uk/blog/building-regulations-in https://upkeep.co.uk/blog/building-regulations-in 2026-08-27 The 2026 Building Regulations (SI 2026 No. 335) tighten Part L and introduce a new L3 duty requiring on-site renewable electricity from March 2027. New-build gas is effectively winding down — boilers now need 92% seasonal efficiency with flow temperatures capped at 55°C — so mastering heat pump and low-temperature design is the way to stay ahead. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/edf-heats-up-1000-price-cut-on-heat-pumps https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/edf-heats-up-1000-price-cut-on-heat-pumps 2026-08-27 EDF is running a limited-time heat pump savings package that knocks £1,000 off installations, aimed at moving households entirely off gas. For approved contractors it's another subsidised route to quote against, on top of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. https://phamnews.co.uk/all-in-one-outdoor-heat-pump-for-simple-boiler-replacement https://phamnews.co.uk/all-in-one-outdoor-heat-pump-for-simple-boiler-replacement 2026-08-27 A UK startup has unveiled an all-in-one outdoor heat pump designed to make gas-to-heat-pump swaps faster, cheaper and far less disruptive. If it delivers, it could lower the barrier for the millions of homes still running boilers. https://www.viessmann.co.uk/en/latest-news.html https://www.viessmann.co.uk/en/latest-news.html 2026-08-27 Viessmann has launched two new-generation R290 monobloc air source heat pumps, the Vitocal 150-A and 151-A, built for straightforward boiler replacement in UK homes. UK installers were involved in the development, so the units are optimised for British installs and available from 4kW to 12kW. https://www.daikin.eu/en_us/press-releases/daikin-introduces-x-series.html https://www.daikin.eu/en_us/press-releases/daikin-introduces-x-series.html 2026-08-27 Daikin's X Series fuses air-to-air and air-to-water technology into one system that handles heating, cooling and hot water in a single unit. It rolls out across Europe from September 2026, aimed at new and modernised homes up to 150m².