Valor has teamed up with Brockenhurst College in Hampshire as part of an ongoing initiative to promote the benefits of gas fires to tomorrow’s gas installers.

Plumbing and heating apprenticeship students will be able to gain practical experience working on a number of gas fires donated by Valor, which have been installed in a new gas training facility at the college. The facilities will also welcome existing gas professionals who need to renew their professional registrations.

Valor will also be on hand to provide support and advice to students as part of its links with the college, including an annual presentation on the benefits of gas fires and how to overcome complications that might occur when on site.

Richard Beaman, commercial director for Valor, said: "Four out of every five Gas Safe engineers have completed the HTR1 module which means they are registered to work with gas fires and wall heaters, but only a small percentage of those are installing, replacing or commissioning natural gas fires. This tells us that there is a large pool of gas installers who are missing out on quick, easy and readily available jobs that gas fires can deliver – and we want to make sure that the next generation of installers do not make the same mistake.

“Our partnership with Brockenhurst College will benefit the students because they can gain valuable, hands-on experience with market-leading products, but it also gives us the opportunity to work closely with them to promote the benefits of gas fires and share our own experiences.

“Gas fires remain at the heart of the British home. With improved efficiencies, flexible installation opportunities and reliable operation from a cheap, clean and readily-available fuel, there is no reason why they can’t provide a good source of income for all the plumbing and heating students at Brockenhurst College once they qualify.

“This is just one of a number of initiatives we are planning this year to get installers of all ages thinking about gas fires again.”

Pictured: Staff from Valor and Brokenhurst College at the new training facility