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://mucka.ai/blog/how-to-guide/service-plans-for-heating-engineers-how-monthly-cover-actually-works https://mucka.ai/blog/how-to-guide/service-plans-for-heating-engineers-how-monthly-cover-actually-works 2026-10-23 A service plan turns a boiler you see once a year into income that arrives every month, and when it comes time to sell your business, buyers pay a premium for a plan book with 85%+ retention. But the difference between a compliant maintenance plan and unauthorised insurance comes down to a single sentence. One wrong word and the FCA treats your whole plan book as an insurance contract. Mucka handles the plans, the monthly Direct Debits, the chasing when a payment fails, and the allowances counting down through the year, all from your phone. Customers agree to cover and set up payment on their own page, so you spend less time on admin and more time on the tools. When a payment bounces, Mucka keeps cover running while it chases, instead of dropping a customer who just changed banks. [See how service plans work in Mucka](https://mucka.ai/features/service-plans/) | [Try Mucka free](https://mucka.ai/) https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/news/industry-sets-out-path-to-bring-down-electricity-prices-and-deliver-clean-heat-for-homes-and-businesses?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=industry-regulations https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/news/industry-sets-out-path-to-bring-down-electricity-prices-and-deliver-clean-heat-for-homes-and-businesses?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=industry-regulations 2026-10-23 The electricity-to-gas price ratio still sits around 4:1, and Energy UK's new Sparking Change report, backed by Mitsubishi Electric, says that has to fall to 3:1 by 2030 and 2.5:1 long-term. Narrowing that spark gap could drive 250,000 extra domestic heat pump installs by 2030 and save a heat pump household £300 a year, while removing all remaining policy costs from electricity bills would cost £2.5bn a year but rebalance the market for good. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/important-change-to-the-bus-installer-portal-what-you-need-to-do-before-3-november/?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=industry-regulations https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/important-change-to-the-bus-installer-portal-what-you-need-to-do-before-3-november/?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=industry-regulations 2026-10-23 From 3 November, every registered user accessing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Installer Portal needs a GOV.UK One Login matched to the same email as their BUS account. Every registered user in your organisation needs one, not just the authorised rep. Create yours now at gov.uk/account and check your voucher expiry dates to avoid access problems when redeeming heat pump grants. https://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/four-reasons-why-scrapping-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-would-leave-the-uks-energy-policy-in-disarray?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=industry-regulations https://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/four-reasons-why-scrapping-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-would-leave-the-uks-energy-policy-in-disarray?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=industry-regulations 2026-10-23 With the Treasury reportedly considering cuts to the £15bn Warm Homes Plan, Nesta lays out four reasons scrapping the BUS would be catastrophic: it would wipe out a growing installer base that has invested heavily in heat pump skills, 74% of BUS-backed installs wouldn't happen without the grant, the scheme is actually working with real costs falling 2.7% a year, and it would leave climate policy in tatters. Nesta proposes phasing the grant to zero by the mid-2030s rather than an abrupt cut. https://www.hpmmag.com/news/heating-industry-writes-to-burnham-government-on-rural-heating-pledges?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=industry-regulations https://www.hpmmag.com/news/heating-industry-writes-to-burnham-government-on-rural-heating-pledges?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=industry-regulations 2026-10-23 Eight months after 16,000 oil-heated homes, technicians and fuel distributors backed renewable liquid fuels in the Alternative Clean Heating Solutions consultation, more than 1,000 have written directly to the new government demanding a response. OFTEC and UKIFDA argue a 20% HVO blend across the UK's 1.7 million oil-heated homes would deliver the same carbon saving as 350,000 heat pumps, without the £16,900 average retrofit cost. https://registeredgasengineer.co.uk/technical/updated-tightness-testing-standard-what-you-need-to-know?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=training-compliance https://registeredgasengineer.co.uk/technical/updated-tightness-testing-standard-what-you-need-to-know?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=training-compliance 2026-10-23 As of 1 October, IGEM/UP/1B Edition 4 is the only legal standard for gas tightness testing, replacing the decades-old meter-based system with an installation volume calculation. Crucially, any perceptible pressure drop now requires isolating appliances and retesting pipework alone with zero movement allowed, and the purge volume must be calculated as 1.5 x IV for all installations. Every CCN1 assessment now follows the new procedure; continuing with Edition 3 is no longer an option. https://www.hpmmag.com/news/icom-launches-new-guide-to-flammable-refrigerants-in-heat-pumps?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=training-compliance https://www.hpmmag.com/news/icom-launches-new-guide-to-flammable-refrigerants-in-heat-pumps?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=training-compliance 2026-10-23 ICOM's new guide walks specifiers and installers through selecting R32 and R290 refrigerants as F-gas rules tighten, covering protective zones, ignition sources, ventilation and the BS EN 378, ISO 5149 and DSEAR standards. With R290 classified as A3 highly flammable, the guide is a practical reference for safely specifying and installing the growing number of heat pumps using these refrigerants. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/plumbers-becoming-aircon-installers-what-you-need-to-know?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=training-compliance https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/plumbers-becoming-aircon-installers-what-you-need-to-know?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=training-compliance 2026-10-23 With UK residential air conditioning forecast to grow from 5% to 15% of homes, TF Solutions' Andy Cherrill lays out how plumbers and heating engineers can move into AC installs. A three-day F-gas course covers legal basics, but system design, adding refrigerant to longer pipe runs and advanced commissioning are what separate qualified installers from under-skilled newcomers. The AC industry needs more qualified installers and the opportunity is there for gas engineers willing to upskill properly. https://phamnews.co.uk/research-reveals-a-lack-of-confidence-in-heat-pumps-among-installers/?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=training-compliance https://phamnews.co.uk/research-reveals-a-lack-of-confidence-in-heat-pumps-among-installers/?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=training-compliance 2026-10-23 A survey of 1,320 installers finds only 27% of Heat Training Grant recipients went on to install a heat pump, with a third citing lack of practical learning as the main barrier. Wolseley's Dan Marsden puts it bluntly: "The course isn't the hard part, the first job is." The merchant is expanding its Renewables Centre, Nesta-backed Start at Home scheme and free MCS umbrella programme to bridge the gap, warning the sector needs 154,000 installers by 2035. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/how-local-installers-are-quietly-winning-more-boiler-installation-work/?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=business-money https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/how-local-installers-are-quietly-winning-more-boiler-installation-work/?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=business-money 2026-10-23 Gal Gazit from Plumbing & Heating Growth explains that most heating firms market to the emergency caller worth £80, while ignoring the replacement buyer worth £3,500 who spends weeks researching. One north London firm rebuilt a single Google Business Profile page around installation-specific reviews and job photos, and saw profile clicks jump 880% with four qualified enquiries in a fortnight. The firms winning the big jobs aren't spending more on advertising; they're simply showing up when a homeowner searches locally with proof of installation work. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/industry-news/average-value-of-tools-stolen-in-single-theft-from-a-van-is-1710?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=business-money https://www.installeronline.co.uk/industry-news/average-value-of-tools-stolen-in-single-theft-from-a-van-is-1710?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=business-money 2026-10-23 VW Commercial Vehicles' annual survey finds one in five UK van drivers experienced tool theft in 2025, with 92% losing at least a day of work and 26% losing a full week. The annual bill for stolen equipment across UK trades now stands at £1.7bn. With 13% of victims losing over £3,000 in a single hit, it's a sharp reminder to review van security and tool insurance before the winter callout rush. https://www.hpmmag.com/news/bcis-reveals-updated-five-year-construction-industry-forecast?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=business-money https://www.hpmmag.com/news/bcis-reveals-updated-five-year-construction-industry-forecast?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=business-money 2026-10-23 New BCIS forecast data shows tender prices climbing 14.1% over five years, with total new work output contracting 3.7% in 2026 before a slow recovery from 2027. Elevated energy, steel and copper costs are squeezing contractors who can't fully pass them on, while strong demand from EVs, AI and defence is creating capacity pressures in specific sectors. Gas engineers pricing long-lead quotes should factor in sustained materials inflation. https://phamnews.co.uk/rising-costs-forcing-tradespeople-to-stall-investment/?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=business-money https://phamnews.co.uk/rising-costs-forcing-tradespeople-to-stall-investment/?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=business-money 2026-10-23 Tradesman Saver's Cost of the Trades report finds 37% of tradespeople are turning down work because the costs make it unviable, while 19% are cutting back on training and qualifications. Fuel and transport costs top the pressure list at 45%, followed by household inflation and energy bills. It's a signal for engineers to protect margins and keep investing in the skills that win winter work, even as the squeeze tightens. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/panasonic-expands-aquarea-m-series-of-r290-heat-pumps?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=new-products-tech https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/panasonic-expands-aquarea-m-series-of-r290-heat-pumps?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=new-products-tech 2026-10-23 Panasonic's expanded Aquarea M Series brings R290 air-to-water heat pumps in 3, 5, 7 and 9kW, with a compact all-in-one indoor unit that's 215mm lower than the previous model for tight spaces. Water temperatures hit 75°C at -10°C ambient for boiler replacement jobs, 65°C hot water without an electric heater, and the Cloud Adaptor comes as standard for remote monitoring via Aquarea Service Cloud. Available from spring 2027. https://phamnews.co.uk/low-cost-add-on-will-turn-heat-pumps-into-air-cons/?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=new-products-tech https://phamnews.co.uk/low-cost-add-on-will-turn-heat-pumps-into-air-cons/?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=new-products-tech 2026-10-23 The Cosy Cooler, expected in 2027 at £500 to £600, connects to existing Cosy heat pump pipework and installs in about three hours, undercutting standalone air conditioning at £2,000 to £6,000. About the size of a tall kitchen bin, it draws warm indoor air across a heat exchanger and can serve one to three rooms. Live trials are underway and Octopus is seeking more participants; it's a compelling conversation starter for installers fielding cooling enquiries after the UK's 38.2°C August. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/ranked-the-super-quiet-heat-pumps-of-the-year?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=new-products-tech https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/ranked-the-super-quiet-heat-pumps-of-the-year?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=new-products-tech 2026-10-23 New YouGov data finds 63% of Brits say noise would influence their heat pump purchase and 23% would drop the idea entirely, so Quiet Mark has ranked the quietest certified 2026 models by home size. The guide covers Daikin, Panasonic, Vaillant, LG, NIBE and Midea with trade pricing and installation notes. A practical reference for installers defusing the "heat pumps are noisy" objection and specifying the right unit per property. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/atag-launches-opera-quoting-app-for-heating-installers?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=new-products-tech https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/atag-launches-opera-quoting-app-for-heating-installers?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=new-products-tech 2026-10-23 ATAG's OPERA app lets any Gas Safe installer survey a job in under 12 minutes and email a branded, contractual quote before leaving the customer's home. It's free when you add an ATAG boiler to the quote alongside whatever brand you normally fit, and ATAG's Bonus Boiler scheme gives you every 11th boiler free. One early user won the job on his first quote and says it has changed everything about how he sells. https://www.hpmmag.com/news/grant-westfield-launches-installer-training-programme?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=quick-links https://www.hpmmag.com/news/grant-westfield-launches-installer-training-programme?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=quick-links 2026-10-23 15 short videos covering the full installation journey for Multipanel and Naturepanel wall panels, with a certificate and Installer Elite loyalty points for completing it. Free, self-paced CPD for installers adding bathroom and wetroom work alongside heating jobs. https://www.hpmmag.com/news/dab-beats-2030-emissions-target-five-years-early?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=quick-links https://www.hpmmag.com/news/dab-beats-2030-emissions-target-five-years-early?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=quick-links 2026-10-23 DAB has cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions 62% against a 2020 baseline, but says 99% of its carbon footprint comes from pumps in use after sale. The finding backs its push for installers to size systems correctly and use controls so circulator pumps run efficiently over their whole life. https://www.hpmmag.com/news/cistermiser-urges-schools-to-make-direct-flushing-part-of-washroom-upgrades?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=quick-links https://www.hpmmag.com/news/cistermiser-urges-schools-to-make-direct-flushing-part-of-washroom-upgrades?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=quick-links 2026-10-23 Infrared demand-based Direct Flush urinal valves cut water waste as schools refurbish, with Waterwise data showing leaky loos and taps waste up to 3,100 litres a day per school. A commercial plumbing angle for installers working on education estates where water efficiency is sitting alongside heating upgrades. https://www.hpmmag.com/news/low-carbon-heating-takes-centre-stage-at-emex-2026?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=quick-links https://www.hpmmag.com/news/low-carbon-heating-takes-centre-stage-at-emex-2026?utm_source=thejobsheet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-23&utm_content=quick-links 2026-10-23 25-26 November with 100+ speakers, 100+ exhibitors and a free CPD-accredited programme, including HPA UK's "Beyond the Headlines: Turning Heat Pump Potential into Reality" session. Free registration for engineers wanting to brush up on heat pumps, energy efficiency and decarbonisation ahead of winter. https://press.hse.gov.uk/2026/10/12/landlord-sentenced-for-leaving-gas-boiler-unchecked-for-eight-years https://press.hse.gov.uk/2026/10/12/landlord-sentenced-for-leaving-gas-boiler-unchecked-for-eight-years 2026-10-16 A Wirral landlord was fined £2,400 plus £5,000 costs after failing to arrange a single annual gas safety check for eight years at a property occupied by a tenant and her five children. HSE called it "complete disregard for the law" — a sharp reminder that annual landlord gas safety checks remain a legal duty and a steady, protected source of work for Gas Safe engineers. https://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/four-reasons-why-scrapping-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-would-leave-the-uks-energy-policy-in-disarray https://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/four-reasons-why-scrapping-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-would-leave-the-uks-energy-policy-in-disarray 2026-10-16 As the Treasury reportedly eyes the £2.7bn BUS for cuts, Nesta lays out the case against: BUS applications hit record highs in July and August 2026, 74% of installs wouldn't happen without the grant, the electricity-to-gas price ratio has fallen from 4.7 to 3.3 since January, and scrapping it would decimate a growing installer base that has invested heavily in heat pump skills. https://hpauk.org.uk/news/national-heat-pump-week-to-launch-in-october-2026 https://hpauk.org.uk/news/national-heat-pump-week-to-launch-in-october-2026 2026-10-16 The UK's inaugural National Heat Pump Week launched this week (12–16 October) with 10 free CPD webinars covering everything from heat pump basics and myth-busting to commercial applications and the Future Homes Standard. Backed by HPA UK and Nineteen Group with a combined reach of 1m+ built environment professionals, it's a coordinated first push to accelerate the sector. https://phamnews.co.uk/new-report-highlights-englands-diminishing-plumbing-workforce/ https://phamnews.co.uk/new-report-highlights-englands-diminishing-plumbing-workforce/ 2026-10-16 JTL's new workforce modelling reveals England's plumbing workforce has already shrunk 16% since 2018 and could lose another 30% by 2039, with only 2,150 apprenticeship starts against the 8,500 needed annually. JTL calls for raising the SME apprentice hiring incentive to £3,000 and designating plumbing a priority occupation in national workforce planning. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/ranked-the-super-quiet-heat-pumps-of-the-year https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/ranked-the-super-quiet-heat-pumps-of-the-year 2026-10-16 Quiet Mark's YouGov 2026 data finds 63% of Brits say noise concerns would sway a heat pump purchase — and 23% would drop the idea entirely — so it has ranked the quietest certified 2026 models by home size (Daikin, Panasonic, Vaillant, LG, NIBE, Midea). A practical reference for installers defusing the "heat pumps are noisy" objection and specifying the right unit per property. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/the-evolution-of-vaillants-arotherm-plus-heat-pump-what-installers-need-to-knpw https://www.installeronline.co.uk/green-energy/the-evolution-of-vaillants-arotherm-plus-heat-pump-what-installers-need-to-knpw 2026-10-16 Rather than redesigning its best-selling aroTHERM plus, Vaillant has refined it: a new Flexible Space Function relaxes exclusion-zone and siting rules, gateway integration is simpler for remote monitoring, and an anthracite finish helps sell the aesthetics. Installers keep the familiar 3.5–12kW outputs they already trust while gaining easier installs and a stronger customer pitch. https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/atag-launches-opera-quoting-app-for-heating-installers https://www.installeronline.co.uk/heating/atag-launches-opera-quoting-app-for-heating-installers 2026-10-16 ATAG's free OPERA app lets any Gas Safe installer survey and email a professional, branded boiler quote in minutes — automatic follow-ups included — and can attach an 18-year-warranty ATAG equivalent beside whatever boiler they usually fit. It launches alongside a Bonus Boiler scheme (every 11th ATAG free) as a direct play to help installers win more jobs this heating season. https://www.hpmmag.com/news/passiv-uk-and-ample-partner-to-deliver-smarter-heat-pump-installations https://www.hpmmag.com/news/passiv-uk-and-ample-partner-to-deliver-smarter-heat-pump-installations 2026-10-16 Ample has named Passiv UK its preferred smart controls provider for all Ample-backed heat pump installs, pairing the Passiv Smart Thermostat (Energy Saving Trust-verified to boost efficiency 17% and cut bills up to 30%) with remote monitoring via the Passiv Portal. Installers gain post-install performance visibility and fewer needless callouts, with time-of-use tariff optimisation and solar integration built in. https://www.hpmmag.com/news/bcis-reveals-updated-five-year-construction-industry-forecast https://www.hpmmag.com/news/bcis-reveals-updated-five-year-construction-industry-forecast 2026-10-16 New BCIS forecast data shows building costs and tender prices both climbing ~14% over five years, with total new work output contracting 3.7% in 2026 before a slow recovery from 2027. Elevated energy, steel and copper costs are squeezing contractors who can't fully pass them on — a signal for gas engineers to price long-lead quotes carefully heading into the new year.