In conversation with Rory Sparkes, Head of Proposition - Renewables & Low Carbon at Wolseley

To meet the UK’s target of 1.6 million heat pump installations by 2035, we must train over 100,000 new engineers in just 10 years. The UK has trained just 22,000 engineers since 2022, putting the current trajectory significantly behind where it needs to be [1]. This skills gap is recognised by government as one of the biggest barriers to heat pump roll-out and taking that critical step towards decarbonisation, bringing the UK closer to reaching net-zero. The current shortage of expert engineers is holding back the UK’s progress toward sustainability and needs to be addressed.

Rory Sparkes

Rory Sparkes, Head of Proposition - Renewables & Low Carbon, has led the transformational Renewables Programme for Wolseley as its Programme Lead. We spoke to Rory about how Wolseley are taking a leading role in supporting installers transition from gas boiler installations to installing heat pumps and other low carbon solutions, helping close the skills gap. 

How has Wolseley positioned itself to address the green skills gap in the U.K in line with what is happening in the market?  

The market has accelerated with significant uptake in renewable technologies such as heat pumps due to a range of government policies and funding mechanisms. Wolseley, known for being a traditional plumbing and heating merchant, acknowledged that we have an opportunity to position ourselves to support the installer of future and expand our position in the value chain. With the help of Oaklin, we launched Renewables Centre to the market in April 2025. A brand and proposition that supports installers with being trained in renewable technologies such as air source heat pumps, EV charging, solar and battery with built training centres and show rooms across the country. In addition to training, we also offer design and installation support to installers to relieve them of the administrative tasks of installing renewables and giving them the ability to focus on the things they enjoy – installations! 

Wolseley are establishing themselves as a key authority and partner in the market for installers to play a role in the energy transition. 

What role do Wolseley’s newest flagship Renewables Centres play in helping installers upskill and transition away from traditional gas systems to technologies such as heat pumps? 

We at Wolseley recognise that training is just the first step into the market. Supporting installers who have been installing gas boilers for the last decade or longer, we need to support those installers in first entering into this marketplace through training. But it doesn’t just end there, we have to really cut down the complexity and make it easy and convenient for installers to keep participating in this market. We are providing installers with access to a range of renewables products across our 450 branches in the U.K. 

Our first two flagship branches in Swansea and Shrewsbury really pull all of that together. We’ve partnered with training provider, NAPIT, across our training centre locations and acquired specialist design expertise through R.E.S, to establish a close working relationship with the UK’s installer base.  We will continue to see growth in the deployment of Renewables Centres and our presence in renewable energy solutions at a local level for installers around the country. 

What are you hoping Wolseley will gain from this shift? And how does it fit in with projections for the UK heating industry? 

There’s a range of different scenarios in the marketplace. There’s the possibility of district heating networks and local residential housing decarbonisation through electrification. And we as Wolseley operate in a range of different spaces in both the commercial markets in addition to the local installer and residential market. Whilst the market is still in its early stages, it’s accelerating fast. At Wolseley, we have recognised the fact that we need to expand our presence in the market so that when the market does reach maturity, we have already positioned ourselves with the right services, right access to products and as a leader in renewables and low carbon technology. By taking bold steps through making acquisitions and entering into new partnerships, we are positioning ourselves for the future market. And if we don’t do it now, then the marketplace and our competitors will accelerate ahead of us. 

With the support of Oaklin, we’ve been able to translate a strategy of where we want to go in the market, to a true transformational programme that is really going to establish us as a leader in the long run. 

Looking to the future, what are Wolseley’s ambitions for expanding the impact of Renewable Centre in the coming years? 

We absolutely recognise that even when we offer a range of services, and when weare able to get installers interested and transacting in the space of renewables, that there is still a lot of red tape, bureaucracy and complexity to the marketplace. We are very much in a position to be very excited about the future where we can explore more options to further support the installer. 

Once our installers get trained, we don’t want them sitting there for 6 to 12 months thinking “how am I actually going to go about getting involved in this market?” So, watch this space, as we’re beginning to explore how we can expand our position in the value chain to support installers in entering and prospering in this marketplace.