Installers are being urged to take advantage of the vouchers available to help with the cost of RHI training.

Installers are being urged to take advantage of the vouchers available to help with the cost of RHI training. With the imminent launch of the domestic RHI, the voucher scheme is designed to help installers living and working in England gain the qualifications required to become MCS certified and get involved in the installation and maintenance of domestic renewable heat technologies including solar thermal, heat pumps and biomass systems.

A Cross Skill voucher is eligible for solar thermal, heat-pump and biomass courses and is valued up to £500 or 75% of the total course cost including VAT - whichever is the lesser amount.

So, if a solar thermal course is priced at £500 + VAT totalling £600, then the voucher would be for £450. For a biomass course priced at £650 + VAT totalling £780, 75% of the cost is £585, but the voucher would be for a maximum of £500. Payment is made to the Training Provider upon completion of the course and assessment. Apprenticeship support vouchers are also available up to £2,500 to support those nearing the end of their plumbing/heating apprenticeship to become skilled with one or more renewable technologies.

RHI training vouchers are accepted at approved training centres across the UK, including several HETAS venues. Installers can find out more about the RHI training vouchers at www.rhitraining.co.uk. Biomass training is now available at the majority of HETAS approved training centres around the country.