Ideal opens doors on ‘future of heating’
UK – Ideal Heating has given visitors to its Hull HQ a behind-the-scenes insight into the present and future of heating in the UK.
The manufacturer hosted guests from the worlds of business, education and training as part of Humber Business Week, the annual celebration of business across the region.
The event involved tours of the company’s UK Technology Centre (UKTC), a facility for the development and testing of heat pumps and low-carbon heating technologies, and its boiler manufacturing facilities.
Guests also took on a “commission a heat pump in 90 seconds” challenge led by Training and Design Services Director, Andrew Johnson, and members of Ideal’s Expert Academy training team.
Ideal is part of Groupe Atlantic UK and Republic of Ireland, which employs around 1,500 people in the UK, with 800 at the Hull site. It is nearing completion of a £60m investment programme in new manufacturing, distribution and research and development facilities at the Hull site, as the business embraces renewable heating solutions.
The flagship development is the industry-leading UKTC, which gives Ideal the world-class R&D capability to develop, test and refine the next generation of heating products. When fully staffed and operational, the UKTC will bring together more than 100 specialists currently spread across the Hull site, thereby supporting greater collaboration and innovation.
Ideal’s Chief Operating Officer Jason Speedy welcomed the guests to the National Avenue site and explained how the business was building on decades of experience heating British homes and businesses to now lead the UK heating industry’s shift to low-carbon solutions.
He said: “It’s been a pleasure to open our doors to guests as part of Humber Business Week. We’re proud to be one of the region’s largest and longest-established businesses, with our roots in Hull stretching back well over 100 years. We’re also excited to showcase the huge investments we’re making to remain at the forefront of our industry as heating technologies evolve.
“On this site we have both advanced manufacturing systems and processes supporting the production of up to half a million gas boilers each year, and industry-leading skills and capabilities to pioneer the heating technologies of the future.”
Engineering Director Helen Villamuera was among senior executives hosting site tours. She said: “This event has enabled us to demonstrate the scale of the transformation across our Hull site, as we decarbonise both our products and our operations.
“It’s also been great to highlight the many exciting and rewarding career opportunities we offer, including in engineering, research, product testing and software development.
“These opportunities have increased in range and diversity as we have embraced the transition to low-carbon heating systems and invested in both our facilities and our people.”
One of the guests, Alan Brattan, Yorkshire committee member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), said the event demonstrated Ideal’s commitment to continually investing in its operations and products.
He said: “The production of boilers is very advanced and it’s really impressive to see so much investment in low-carbon technologies in an industry that is so important in terms of climate change. It’s especially exciting to see such a strong focus on developing heat pumps specifically designed for the UK market and climate.”
