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Heating and ventilation engineer Green Job

Heating and ventilation engineers install and service heating and air conditioning systems in buildings like offices, schools and hospitals.

Annual Salary

£20,000 to £40,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

41 to 43 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends; as customers demand

1.1%
Future employment

There will be 1.1% fewer Heating and ventilation engineer jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a heating and ventilation engineer, you'll:

  • follow design blueprints to fit heating equipment and pipework
  • install ductwork and ventilation systems
  • design and install control panels that adjust heating systems
  • find and fix faults
  • plan and carry out regular maintenance and repairs

Possible green job

This job could help the environment.

For a heating and ventilation engineer to be a green job, you could:

  • use natural airflow in buildings to reduce reliance on mechanical ventilation systems
  • install heating systems powered by renewable energy sources
  • fit automated wireless controls that regulate temperature and humidity more efficiently

Find out more about green careers

Working environment

You could work at a client's business.

Your working environment may be at height, cramped and you'll travel often.

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
College

You can take a college course to learn some of the skills needed to get a trainee engineer job.

Courses include:

  • plumbing and heating
  • building services engineering
  • T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
  • guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship

You can get into this job by applying to do an apprenticeship. Examples include:

  • Building Services Engineering Installer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Building Services Engineering Craftsperson Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships can take 2 to 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Direct application

You may be able to apply directly for jobs if you have qualifications and experience in building services engineering or plumbing.

More information

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering for professional development training and industry news.

Further information

You can get more advice about careers in heating and ventilation engineering from:Go Construct; Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers; Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering

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With experience, you could:supervise a team of engineers; move into a managerial role; work in technical sales

With further training, you could become a building services engineer, facilities manager or heat pump engineer.

You could also set up as self-employed and run your own business.

How does this job help to address the impacts of climate change and protect wildlife and nature in the West of England?

Heating and Ventilations Engineers are needed to install and service low carbon heating systems, including Heat Source Pumps, in buildings across the West of England region.

Examples of post-16 courses you could study at local schools or colleges

  • Maths, Physics A-levels
  • Level 1-3 Engineering at City of Bristol College

Click here to find a local provider

Apprenticeships you may be able to take with local employers

  • Level 3 Electrical, Electronic Product Service and Installation Engineer Apprenticeship
  • Level 3 Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship

Click here to search for a local apprenticeship

For more information on the different routes you can take to get into working as a heating engineer, take a look at the 'Routes into this job' section above. 

Click here for an explanation of the different course and apprenticeship levels.

Local employers 

  • Ove Arup and Partners
  • Mott Macdonald

For more local employment opportunities see the 'Live job vacancies by region' section above.

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Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • practical skills for installing equipment
  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • problem-solving skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • knowledge of building and construction
  • analytical thinking skills
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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