The upgraded academy introduces a suite of new resources aimed at both new entrants and experienced installers looking to upskill in heat pump and renewables technology. Central to the expansion are three state-of-the-art training rooms equipped with the latest Daikin systems, giving trainees direct, hands-on access to the equipment they will encounter in the field.
A standout feature is a full-scale domestic training environment, complete with a realistic house frontage, living room and airing cupboard. The space includes a fully operational heating and cooling system, enabling participants to practise installations in conditions that closely mirror real homes and build confidence before working on live projects.
The academy also incorporates an interactive virtual reality zone and a wall of digital controls, offering immersive learning tools that complement traditional practical instruction. These additions are designed to strengthen both technical understanding and practical competence for those entering the growing heat pump workforce.
Tomoji Miki, Managing Director of Daikin UK, said the investment reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to Greater Manchester. “Daikin enjoys a special relationship with the Manchester region. Since 2022, we have generated £0.5 million in social value for the city-region. This includes donating 40 heat pumps to the Embassy Village charity and training 35 college tutors,” he said. “With the growing appetite for low-carbon heating, and a nationwide shortage of trained engineers, there has never been a better time for installers to upskill into heat pumps. With the transformation of our Manchester Training Academy, we are better equipped to provide the most advanced training to local tradespeople.”
Speaking at the launch, Daniel Dickinson, Low Carbon Programme and Policy Lead at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), said Daikin’s investment is helping to build the skilled workforce required to meet the region’s climate goals. “Daikin’s commitment to investing in skills development and low-carbon technology in Greater Manchester is helping us build the green workforce we need to achieve our 2038 carbon neutrality target.”
James Harries, Head of Climate Change and Sustainability Service at Trafford Council, welcomed the opening, noting its wider economic impact. “It will help the region’s residents and businesses decarbonise their heating and cooling. In turn, this will help to create and support hundreds of well-paid and secure jobs across the region and the North of England.”
The launch follows Daikin’s recent Memorandum of Understanding with GMCA, part of a five-year collaboration to scale up low-carbon heating across the city-region. The agreement builds on a two-year partnership that has already delivered £0.5 million in social value, including the installation of 1,500 heat pumps across Greater Manchester—many in social housing—alongside tutor training programmes and the development of low-carbon educational resources now used in 10 local schools.
The Manchester Training Academy will offer a full suite of courses, from Daikin product training to industry-accredited qualifications for heat pump and renewables installers, social housing providers and developers. Programmes span installation of low-temperature, high-temperature, hybrid and air-to-air systems, with pathways from level 1 to level 3, as well as service, fault-finding and maintenance modules.