At Nesta, our innovation work is underpinned by research. As well as bringing innovation to our mission areas, we also bring it to our methods. We've been experimenting with AI in qual analysis. Our conclusion so far, occasionally useful but mainly very faillible. www.nesta.org.uk/blog/six-rea...

Six reasons why human-led qualitative research is safe from AI… for now

While NotebookLM can support researchers with qualitative data analysis, the value of the tool lies in speed and exploratory sense-checking, not in producing rigorous findings from scratch

nesta.org.uk

For heating engineers wanting independent advice on how to take the first step into heat pumps, we worked with the excellent Barry Sharp to make this video. youtu.be/LXDjcM70py0

How heating engineers can train to install heat pumps | Nesta

YouTube video by Nesta

youtu.be

MCS umbrella schemes play a key role in the UK’s heat pump market. But how do installers know they’re with the right one: one that costs the least and provides the best service to them and their customers? What if there was a comparison tool for umbrella schemes? www.nesta.org.uk/project-upda...

Can we help heat pump installers compare umbrella schemes?

We wanted to speed test whether giving heating engineers better visibility of umbrella scheme would increase their likelihood of transitioning to heat pumps

nesta.org.uk

‘I wouldn’t have given you a fiver for a heat pump before trying this, but now I think they really work.’ That's why Nesta's helping heating engineers get heat pumps to install at home. Start at Home discussed alongside other decarb innovations in the FT today www.ft.com/content/b4cd...

The UK government has announced £9,000 subsidies for households with oil and LPG boilers to get a heat pump. This is seriously good deal for rural homes - not only does it lower the upfront cost, a mid-sized home could save over £650 a year by switching from oil to a heat pump at current prices...

Rachel Reeves managed to wipe several million off SSE's share price on Thursday with a loose promise to decouple electricity and gas prices. Why? And what might she announce this week? 🧵1/6 electionenergy.substack.com/p/ee-22-cons...

EE 2.2 Consious Uncoupling

Breaking the link between gas and electricity is easier than you think

electionenergy.substack.com

The journey from gas or oil heating engineer to heat pumps isn't is clear as it could be. We've written an explainer with the key steps www.nesta.org.uk/toolkit/what...

What does a gas or oil heating engineer need to do to become a heat pump installer?

What support do gas engineers need to move into low-carbon heating? Nesta explores the training pathways that can help engineers retrain in heat pump installation and accelerate the UK’s transition to...

nesta.org.uk

For newly trained heat pump engineers, installing a heat pump at home builds confidence, boosts skills, and encourages plumbers to offer heat pumps to customers. Our interim report is out already and we’ll launch our final report at Installer Show on 24 June. www.nesta.org.uk/report/start...

Start at home for newly trained heat pump installers

Helping heating professionals bridge the gap from heat pump training to real-world installation by starting in their own homes

nesta.org.uk

We’ve been giving newly trained heat pump installers a heat pump to install in their own home! We though it’d help heating engineers newly trained in heat pumps enter the industry faster, grow their confidence and do better installs. It seems to be working! www.nesta.org.uk/report/start...

Start at home for newly trained heat pump installers

Helping heating professionals bridge the gap from heat pump training to real-world installation by starting in their own homes

nesta.org.uk

Could generative AI help heat pump installers do their jobs more effectively? Led by @helloaidank.bsky.social, we've trained a chatbot on a lot of heat pump manuals and technical information, and have been testing how useful it is. You can have a go here: www.nesta.org.uk/project-upda...

How could generative AI change the heat pump skills sector?

Partnering with Renbee, we designed a chatbot to provide clear, practical advice for queries on heat pump installation

nesta.org.uk