RPS Group, a specialist contractor in low-carbon heating solutions, has partnered with Together Housing to enhance renewable energy expertise within the housing association’s workforce. The collaboration involves the installation of state-of-the-art energy-efficient heat pumps at Together Housing’s training facility in Halifax, West Yorkshire. This initiative aims to bolster the engineering team’s knowledge of heat pump technology, supporting the organisation’s goal of increasing energy-efficient housing solutions.
In this partnership, RPS Group has installed three operational heat pump systems, employing both air-source and ground-source technologies that are currently being implemented across Together Housing’s properties. The new training bays feature systems from top manufacturers such as Kensa, Mitsubishi, and Panasonic, providing both new recruits and seasoned engineers with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the operation, servicing, and maintenance of heat pumps.
Headquartered in Wigan, Greater Manchester, RPS Group has forged a strong relationship with Together Housing, one of the largest housing associations in the North and Midlands. This collaboration underscores RPS Group’s capacity to deliver complex, large-scale heating and renewable energy projects. In 2022, RPS Group embarked on a four-year programme to retrofit 2,000 homes across Yorkshire — the largest social housing renewable heat project at the time.
RPS Group has not only installed air-source and ground-source heat pumps but has also retrofitted Together Housing properties with photovoltaic solar panels, battery storage, and enhanced insulation. This latest initiative reinforces the partnership and forms part of a shared commitment to maximising the impact of low-carbon solutions within local communities. It also aligns with Together Housing’s Go Green Together project, which focuses on nurturing local talent, enhancing technical skills, and advancing the transition to Net Zero homes.
Sheridan Boyd, Senior Project Coordinator at Together Housing, stated, “The training centre provides us with many opportunities to upskill talented staff, and with the addition of the heat pumps kindly donated from RPS Group, we can drive our Net Zero focus even further. The heat pump installations are playing a key role in supporting our technicians’ transition of their skills, enabling us to deliver hands-on training both in-house and through external providers, including the manufacturers themselves. It’s a great resource, and we’re all looking forward to seeing the team make full use of it.”
Graham Rothwell, founder and owner of RPS Group, commented, “These new training facilities are a great way for technicians to sharpen their skills and get proper hands-on experience. Sharing knowledge is so important as we embrace new technologies and renewable energy solutions. It helps ensure that residents are getting the support they need, and we’re proud to do our bit to help make that happen. Our aim is to help upskill Together’s team and give them the confidence and capability to maintain, optimise, and troubleshoot systems in the future. We value the strong partnership we’ve built with the team at Together, and we hope there are more opportunities to collaborate further.”
For further information, visit the RPS Group website.
