Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme Training Provider

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) wishes to establish a contract for a Training Provider to provide all aspects of training for the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS). Upcoming regulation is due to mandate certain technical requirements for heat networks, under HNTAS.

These requirements are set to span across several elements of a network (i.e. energy centre, district distribution network, communal distribution network, thermal substation, and consumer connection), and also apply temporally across a range of stages within a network’s lifecycle (i.e. feasibility, design, commissioning and operation and maintenance). The introduction of these requirements is due to apply to both new build and existing networks and introduce the need for the vast majority of existing networks to undertake works to meet performance and reliability thresholds.

As such, we know that there will be increased demand for existing heat network skills, some of which are already being supported through the Heat Training Grant. However, HNTAS is likely to introduce entirely new roles.

Most of the new roles (e.g. HNTAS assessors) will result from the new regulatory obligations to track the compliance of networks with technical standards through HNTAS. Individuals will be required to attend and pass specific training courses before they are allowed to undertake these roles.

DESNZ appointed a ‘Shadow Training Provider’ in December 2024 to design and deliver a set of HNTAS courses. A large proportion of materials will have been developed by the Shadow Training Provider, therefore the majority of the deliverables under the new contract will relate to the delivery of courses, with some development of training required for specific aspects of the scheme.

The HNTAS Training Provider would build on the courses already designed and develop these further subject to industry demand and feedback. The Energy Act also provides for Ofgem to award a licence to a technical standards Code Manager.

The Code Manager, as Ofgem’s licensee, is the entity that must carry out the requirements of that licence. DESNZ are currently working to establish the form of legal entity that the code manager will take.

The Code Manager may take the form of an incorporated entity, called HNTAS Ltd, which would be limited by guarantee. The primary functions of the Code Manager include overall responsibility for HNTAS, operating the scheme, and maintaining the Code.

The Code documents may comprise of technical specifications, assurance procedures and assessor requirements. We expect that the Code Manager will subcontract many of these functions.

We anticipate that DESNZ will procure the contract, with a possibility that the contract is novated or assigned to the technical standards code manager at a later date. We anticipate that the contract would last for 2 years beginning in October 2025, with options to extend for 6 months + 6 months at the end of year 2 and midway through year 3 respectively.

The commencement of the contract is prior to the introduction of minimum standards, planned for 2026, in order to provide the necessary lead-in and setup time. Interest: Are you provisionally interested in bidding for the contract we are looking to procure? If you would like to send any clarification questions, please use the email address above.