High quality apprenticeship placements are crucial in modernising the trade and building up a highly skilled workforce to keep up with future demand.

The HPM Awards is welcoming entries from young trainees already making their mark in heating and plumbing, able to display an unsatiable appetite to learn and develop. Examples and experiences on the tools will help our judges to decide who of this year’s most promising apprentices will make the shortlist – so enter now!

From helping vulnerable households, to emergency repairs and preventing a plumbing or heating disaster, industry brands, associations and installers have a pivotal role to play in safety and wellbeing.

We are looking to celebrate these efforts and spread awareness of gas safety, scalding prevention and best practice through the creation of this coveted award. Entries should demonstrate their influence on homeowners and trainees by sharing the key elements of their campaigning.

From digital rainfall showers and wall-hung toilets, the winner of this prize has rarely been phased by demanding jobs and unique bathroom designs.

Able to share their best work through pictures and testimonials, the Bathroom and Showers Installer of the Year is likely to have a strong reputation and full order book. Entries should show keen attention to minor details and exceed expectations when selecting or advising on the products to go for.

Fixing and repairing gas and oil boilers is a core task for heating engineers, going the extra mile to keep people warm and comfortable at home or in commercial settings. How many times have you come to the rescue of a distressed homeowner or business against the odds? Using real life examples, leading contenders for this prize should demonstrate the use of cutting-edge boiler technology and resources to deliver award-winning heating and hot water boiler systems.

Ground source heat pumps and heat networks will play a crucial role in the UK’s journey to Net Zero and we want to champion the very best examples. Working closely with a ground source heat pump manufacturer, the winner of this category can display an exemplary approach to applying the latest technology for a high performing renewable heating project.

Using the most stylish design, colours and radiator materials is one thing, but designing a system with efficient performance is even more important. Shortlisted entries for this Award can show the judges they listened to the customer, found the best brands and supplier, before delivering the job on time and on budget. After all, reputation is everything in the heating and plumbing trade.

Installing energy efficient heat pumps across a range of property types will be instrumental in meeting the Future Homes Standard’s looming 2025 deadline. In this category, the judges are looking for the highest standard of installation and air source heat pump selection – delivering the homeowner with comfortable heating and hot water they fully understand, which can boast high efficiency, low noise and looks great too.

Able to install underfloor heating across a vast range of floor types, entries are encouraged to share visuals of challenging pipe loops and manifold arrangements. Shortlisted entries will have gone over and above a customer’s expectations through the selection of exceptional underfloor heating system, valves, pumps and zoning solutions. Matching the finished product up with suitable and efficient controls will also help win over our judges.

Entries for this award should pride their heating and plumbing installation business on surpassing expectations.

From first impressions to the end solution, the customer experience is always paramount – from answering calls to leaving everything neat and tidy – testimonials mean everything in this award category. During the pandemic and more recent energy crisis, installers who have gone above and beyond to help will be most likely to make the shortlist.

This broad-ranging category welcomes lecturers, teachers, experts and mentors from across the industry and education sector to enter.

We want to celebrate your achievements in developing the next generation of heating and plumbing installers. This might be through formal training schemes, in-house training provision, webinars or the development of trainees within the business. Finding innovative ways to inspire learners and embrace renewables will be high on the judges’ wish list.

Net Zero and sustainability have become key objectives for the heating and plumbing trade as we seek out a future with less reliance on fossil fuels. A cost-of-living crisis with soaring energy bills, meanwhile, has accelerated demand for greener home heating products.

The winner of our Energy Savings Award is an early adopter and installer of renewable heating sources – able to select and install systems capable of delivering energy and financial savings on a regular basis.

There is a soaring demand for upskilled heat pump installers amid Net Zero targets and advancement in renewable technologies. Entries for this award are at the epicentre of this revolution by introducing efficient, quiet and effective heat pumps in place of existing fossil fuel systems.

Case studies are welcomed, detailing the upgrades necessary to make homes and businesses greener.

Experienced heating and plumbing engineers can further enhance their reputation further by winning this top accolade.

Shortlisted installers will have showcased many years of varied and high quality work, constantly modernising their business and embracing latest technology. Examples of standout projects, a loyal customer base and dedication to the highest standards should be demonstrated, helping to inspire others and set new benchmarks in the built environment setting.

This HPM Award category is calling upon manufacturers to show off their very finest product innovations. Product development teams at heating and plumbing brands are constantly evolving to latest sustainability, Building Regulations and home trends to create new solutions. Entries for this category will tick all those boxes, but most importantly create something that makes life easier for the installer.

A go-to trade counter able to supply heating and plumbing goods and spares at short notice. Entries for this award will be operating a welcoming store environment where plumbers and installers feel comfortable asking any question, preferably over a cuppa or better still a bacon roll.

Relationships with suppliers will be integral to your strong reputation and reliability. The winning merchant will demonstrate ways to adapt and evolve amid rising retail competition and high operating costs.

Across the trade, installers receive regular support in return for their loyalty and brand education to the homeowner. That is why the HPM Awards has created a new category celebrating the very best rewards schemes. So here is a chance for manufacturers to showcase the training, points, prizes and incentives being put up for grabs.

Celebrating the upskilling of installers in readiness for the influx of renewable heating technologies, this category will welcome training providers to win recognition for their top courses and events. Moreover, aftersales support together with online resources will win plaudits from the judging panel.