Grant UK has launched a version of Nesta’s Start at Home initiative to heating engineers across England and Wales. The new programme, called Start with Grant, gives fossil fuel boiler installers who haven’t ever fitted a heat pump the opportunity to install a fully funded Grant air source heat pump system in their own home with full technical support.
Nesta’s original Start at Home initiative was created to help build confidence in heat pump technology among installers by giving them the chance to live with the systems themselves. The aim is to develop a growing network of professionals who can speak with authority and credibility when recommending low carbon heating to customers. By partnering with Nesta on this project, Grant UK is delivering a version of the programme that is tailored to its products and services, offering a complete solution from training to MCS certification through their Heat Pump Go MCS partners.
The package offered through Start with Grant is comprehensive. Installers will receive a fully funded Grant Aerona air source heat pump, available up to 12kW, alongside a hot water cylinder of up to 210 litres, a 50-litre volumiser, a smart controller, and a complete heat pump installation kit. These components are delivered directly from Grant UK to the property where the installation will take place, ensuring a smooth start to the project.
To support the installation process, Grant UK provides in-depth technical assistance including tailored system design and heat pump product training. Once the system is in place, on-site commissioning is arranged to ensure everything is working as expected. Installers do not need to be MCS certified to take part – Grant UK has partnered with Heat Pump Go, who will handle MCS certification, making the process accessible for those still working towards MCS accreditation.
Following completion and successful MCS certification of the installation, Grant UK will also provide a £1,500 contribution towards installation costs. This amount is transferred from the remaining balance of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant, making Start with Grant not only technically supportive but financially viable for participating installers.
The benefits go beyond the immediate installation. Installers who take part in the scheme will become eligible to join Grant UK’s G1 Scheme if they’re not already members. This brings with it the reassurance of a seven-year guarantee on their own heat pump and the opportunity to extend the same seven-year guarantee cover to future customer heat pump installations. Just as importantly, the scheme opens the door to future access to BUS funding through Heat Pump Go, allowing installers to offer BUS-eligible installations.
“This isn’t just about installing a heat pump,” says Anna Wakefield, Head of Internal Sales and Marketing at Grant UK. “It’s about helping installers understand the technology, build their confidence and become genuine advocates for low carbon heating. When they can speak from personal experience, it transforms how they connect with customers. Start with Grant gives them that insight and reassurance.”
Madeleine Gabriel, Director of Nesta's sustainable future mission said: "If we want to get more heat pumps in homes then we need to start with installers. Making it free and easy for installers to get one in their own home knocks down a big barrier to growing the workforce - and the market for heat pumps. We're delighted to see Grant UK take forward the idea and we are excited to work with them in the months ahead."
The initiative is initially available to installers in England and Wales. Due to different grant structures in Scotland, particularly those associated with the Home Energy Scotland scheme, Start with Grant is not currently available north of the border. Terms and Conditions also apply.
Installers who are interested in applying can do so via our dedicated webpage here.