The £500,000 RHI training voucher scheme, launched in October last year, has been extended by an additional £150,000.

The extension was announced by Energy & Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, during a visit to Grant Engineering UK in Devizes, Wiltshire.

Mr Barker said: “Today’s announcement is a positive reflection on the industry’s enthusiasm for the government’s push towards renewable heating. I am delighted to announce this additional funding, which should be taken as yet another sign of DECC’s commitment to renewable heating and the imminent arrival of the domestic RHI this spring.

“By incorporating renewable heating into the businesses of many off-gas grid installers, consumers unsure about their next heating system will be able to more easily access knowledgeable, trusted sources of advice in their home.”

Paul Wakefield, managing director of Grant Engineering UK, said: “We have seen a really good uptake in vouchers at our centre here in Devizes and in the North, so welcome the announcement by the Minister today.

“We are excited to be launching our new Vectra domestic biomass condensing pellet boiler at Ecobuild in March and, alongside the boiler, we will be launching nationally recognised pellet appliance training.”

Griff Thomas of GTEC Training, which is administering the scheme, added: “We are delighted that the uptake in vouchers has been so positive and we have seen some great feedback from the industry already. We think the additional funding will make sure that the scheme delivers all of its objectives.”