The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) is defying a trending national decline in apprenticeships with it on track to welcome a record 200 apprentices to its national training centre in 2025.
It highlights the trade organisation’s proactive efforts to raise the profile of both the thermal insulation sector and the rewarding career opportunities it offers, a commitment it will further demonstrate during National Apprenticeship Week (10-16 February) through nationwide careers fairs and college visits by its expert trainers.
This achievement stands in stark contrast to recent data, including House of Commons Library research released last May, which revealed a decline of 172,000 apprenticeship starts since 2015/16. Additionally, the 2024 State of Construction Apprenticeship Report highlighted a 5% drop in apprenticeship uptake over the previous year.
However, TICA’s efforts have been instrumental in highlighting the career’s financial rewards, progression opportunities, reducing energy waste and contributing to the Government’s Net Zero target.
In a first for the UK sector, it is incorporating the innovative TIPCHECK tool into its curriculum. This app-based calculator allows apprentices to measure heat loss from uninsulated pipework and ducting while estimating the financial and energy savings of installing thermal insulation.
Helen Anderson, deputy CEO and head of learning of TICA’s, said: “We are on track to welcome more than 200 apprentices to our National Training Centre in Darlington during 2025, a figure that reflects the success of our initiatives to attract and inspire the next generation of thermal insulators. At a time when apprenticeship numbers are declining, and the construction sector is grappling with a skills shortage, this represents a significant step forward.
“Thermal insulation offers a rewarding, well-paid career with clear progression opportunities, while also playing a critical role in the UK’s journey toward Net Zero. The skills we teach are about more than insulation – they’re about driving sustainability. By incorporating tools like TIPCHECK into the curriculum, we’re equipping apprentices to make a real-world impact in their careers.”
