Ideal Heating CEO Adam Foy sets out the company’s ambition to be the UK’s leading supplier of heating products, whatever the technology, and how the company is setting the standard for heat pump adoption in the UK
The way we heat our homes and businesses is changing, and at Ideal Heating, we’re proud to be at the forefront.
Advice from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) is clear: half of UK homes should have heat pumps by 2040 if the UK Government is to meet its net-zero targets. It highlights the scale of the challenge facing our industry.
For us, that challenge is to remain the brand of choice – boilers, heat pumps or otherwise – as technologies evolve. We’ve been heating Britain’s homes for over 100 years; that experience shapes everything we do. Moving towards low-carbon heating isn’t just a challenge; it’s a responsibility we’re proud to take on.
Our role is to make the transition straightforward for installers, developers, and homeowners alike – whether through tried-and-tested boilers, new-generation heat pumps, or wraparound support, which is part of the Ideal promise. Whatever the future of heating looks like, we’re here to help Britain get it right.
We adopted this ethos decades ago – recognising that great heating solutions aren’t just about the products you make, but how you support the people fitting, managing and living with them.
We’ve built our reputation on products that are easy to install, simple to maintain and reliable – backed by expert training, technical support and smart system design. It’s the same thinking we’re applying to low-carbon heating: heat pumps that work in the real world, not just the brochure.
We knew great products wouldn’t be enough on their own. Without skilled installers, the industry can’t move forward. That’s why we expanded our Expert Academy – offering accredited training at more than 30 UK locations to build real-world skills and confidence in low-carbon systems.
With flagship training centres in Hull, Luton, Leeds and Scotland, plus over 25 satellite sites, we’re ensuring the UK has the skills to decarbonise heating.
It always starts with a great product
We’re proud of the reputation we’ve built for making heating solutions that installers love to fit. Simple, reliable, and built for real homes. It’s how we became the market leader in boilers, and it’s exactly the mindset we bring to heat pumps.
We’ve designed the UK’s easiest heat pump system to install – removing unnecessary complexity while keeping performance high and maintenance straightforward. As one customer said, our heat pumps are “as close to fitting a combi boiler as you’ll get from any manufacturer.” But even the best products need the proper support.
New tech brings new challenges, especially for a workforce still getting to grips with low-carbon systems. That’s why we’ve built a dedicated heat pump support team from the ground up – real experts guiding customers through installation and commissioning. Alongside them, our in-house heat pump engineers offer support via phone, WhatsApp, video call and in person.
Because we manufacture in the UK, our engineers carry spare parts on their vans – meaning faster fixes and fewer delays. No waiting for imports. Just solutions.
It’s the little things that build real trust – making sure installers get the help they need, and homeowners get systems they can rely on. And with a full, transparent parts and labour warranty, peace of mind continues long after installation.
Removing the guesswork with low-carbon heating
Getting it right from the start makes all the difference – especially with low- carbon heating. That’s why we offer a full in-house system design service, supporting developers, contractors and housing providers to plan installations that work for the first time.
We design around our own products, helping to spot and resolve issues early. Installers benefit from digital tools that generate accurate estimates and bills of materials and ensure the correct parts are on the job from day one.
Our dedicated team provides a complete turnkey design and specification service for larger projects – making the switch to heat pumps smoother, smarter and more reliable for everyone involved.
Consumer confidence is key
Supportive policy is helping to build momentum. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme and recent planning rule changes – including relaxed boundary limits and allowances for multiple heat pumps on detached homes – are all steps in the right direction.
The Government’s plan to build 1.5 million new homes during this Parliament is another significant opportunity. With many expected to feature heat pumps as standard, it’s a chance to normalise low-carbon heating and build public trust.
But policy isn’t enough. We must demystify the technology and reassure homeowners that heat pumps can keep them warm all winter. That’s why we’re working with new-build partners, local authorities, and social housing providers to create simple, clear post-installation guides that help people get the best out of their systems.
Transitioning to low-carbon heating: Looking ahead
Transitioning to low-carbon heating needs serious investment. That’s why we’re investing £60 million at our East Yorkshire HQ – including £20 million in a new Research Technology Centre focused on renewables.
Heat pumps are a big part of the future, but we’re building beyond today’s tech – preparing for the next era of sustainable heating. As a Government partner for scaling UK heat pump production, we secured £5.2 million with sister company Gledhill through the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator.
Combined with our own investment, this enables us to manufacture over 100,000 heat pumps a year at Hull, and large-scale production of pre-plumbed cylinders in Blackpool.
But this isn’t just about capacity. It’s about protecting and growing British jobs. Until now, most heat pumps were imported. We’re changing that – building a stronger domestic industry rooted in UK skills and manufacturing.
Our built-in-Britain partnership with Government reflects a wider responsibility we feel as a UK heating leader: to help drive industry transition and make it easier for everyone to make the switch.
We’re proud to be investing in tomorrow – training future installers, developing the technology we’ll need next, and backing it up with hands-on support every step of the way.
Helping Britain move to greener, more sustainable heating isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s what we’ve always done best. That’s ideal.
