The new Executive Director of Make UK, Rt Hon Robert Halfon, has hailed Ideal Heating as a shining example of British manufacturing during a visit to the company’s Hull headquarters.
Following his appointment last September, Mr Halfon, the former Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, has been visiting member companies across the regions to hear first-hand about the challenges they face and explore how Make UK can better support them in realising their potential.
Mr Halfon’s visit highlighted Ideal’s status as an exemplar of innovation, investment and skills development in UK manufacturing.
During his visit, Mr Halfon toured Ideal’s headquarters on National Avenue in Hull, where he met apprentices who have progressed through the company’s comprehensive training programmes, saw production facilities for both boilers and heat pumps, and visited the site of the industry-leading UK Technology Centre (UKTC), which is set to open this year.
Mr Halfon said: “The media often say we’re a service economy, but they could not be more wrong. We’re actually a manufacturing economy. Manufacturing is worth billions to the UK economy and supports millions of jobs.
“Ideal Heating is a true exemplar of what British manufacturing can achieve. What is really impressive, and very important to me as a former Skills Minister, is their huge investment in skills and apprenticeships.
“I met two remarkable apprentices today, both of whom have progressed from Level 2 right up to Level 5, and may go on to do a degree apprenticeship. They could not be a better advert for apprenticeships across our country.
“But it’s not just skills. Ideal is also leading the way in innovation and investment in advanced manufacturing technologies, particularly in low-carbon heating solutions. This combination makes Ideal an outstanding example of the future of UK manufacturing.”
Mr Halfon’s tour concluded with a roundtable discussion on critical issues facing UK manufacturing, including energy policy and home standards.
John Cook, Ideal Heating Production Director and Vice Chair of Make UK Yorkshire and Humber, said: “We were honoured to welcome Robert to our sites in Hull and show him the very significant investments we’re making in advanced manufacturing, skills development and installer training.
“The roundtable discussion focused on the importance of getting energy policy right for the future of manufacturing in the UK. These decisions will have a profound impact on businesses like ours and the skilled workforce we’ve built. We valued the opportunity to discuss these vital issues with Robert and the Make UK team.”
Make UK is the voice of UK manufacturing. For more than 130 years, the organisation has championed growth and innovation in the sector, supporting companies of all sizes through campaigning, sector expertise, business services and apprenticeship training.
Ideal Heating has a strong relationship with Make UK, regularly participating in initiatives including National Manufacturing Day, which showcases the variety of modern manufacturing careers and attracts new talent to the industry. For the last two years, Ideal has opened its doors to young students from across the Humber region as part of the annual event.
Mr Halfon was accompanied by Make UK representatives Annette Hobson, Regional Membership Manager, and Dawn Huntrod, Regional Director North. He met with senior Ideal leaders including Helen Villamuera, Engineering Director, John Cook, Production Director, and Andrew Johnson, Training and Design Services Director.
Ideal Heating is the UK’s heating market leader in both domestic and commercial heating, employing 1,100 people, with 800 at its main site in Hull. The company is close to completing a £60m transformation of the Hull site, including new manufacturing, distribution and research and development facilities as it transitions towards low carbon heating solutions.
The investment programme includes the £19.2m UKTC, which will house over 100 specialists focused on developing next-generation heating technologies when it opens later this year.