Future Leaders: Cohort 7
Heat Pumps
Our project was the culmination of over six months worth of strategy, leadership and management training – all tied to the topic of Net Zero and Sustainability.
What we did:
Our project centred on researching supply chains associated with the Heat Pump market.
We felt a technology that is becoming a vital part of our move to net zero needed to be interrogated on its ethicality.
Following this, exploring what, if anything, we could add to the discussion in this space to improve the Heat Pump supply chain.
We looked at what we could do to set a standard in this growing market
We spent time gathering research and speaking to industry experts and devised a potential solution to support sustainability in the market.
We highlighted the potential of a ‘mark of trust’, we looked into how this could work practically.
We wrote a report illustrating our proposal and presented it back to industry experts from MCS.
Why we did it
We had discussed personal stories of adding solar panels to homes and using the MCS certification to guide purchases. However, after that purchase there was a realisation that there was limited transparency in the supply chain, this gave rise to ethical concerns over their manufacture.
Initially our hypothesis was around the creation of a mark of trust for the solar panel industry wider than product performance standards; we understood that there was a huge increase in demand for panels as low carbon energy generators, however, after some research and conversation with organisations, we realised that this would be covered by the recently developed Solar Stewardship Scheme.
So we decided to map this trajectory from solar onto the heat pump industry, given that solar is several years ahead. This aligned well with the UKs goal of Net Zero - 2050, as heat pumps are a crucial part of the UK’s transition to decarbonise the residential and commercial heating infrastructure.
What did we learn?
“This project helped build my resilience and commitment to developing something from scratch, even when there are no deadlines and it was a new idea without a framework to guide us. Benefitting from the commitment of my colleagues and this encouraged me to participate in the project, even when challenging. Learning from other members of the team and Richard throughout this process, was the real benefit for me - even more than the subject matter!”
Alex Hyde
“I enjoyed working within a team of professionals within the climate industry and seeing how all our jobs are remarkably different but serve the same purpose. It was really humbling to see how broad our industry is and be taken out of my own sphere of influence. I enjoyed learning about the Heat pump industry and how private investment is entangled with public interest. I really felt proud of the group as we entered the final part of the project presenting to MCS and watching us all develop as leaders.”
Sophie Jones
“I really enjoyed the process of creating this hypothesis, not only because I find the topic of low-carbon energy generation interesting and exciting, but because I had not worked on a project like it before. Having the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals in the creation of a new concept was a truly special experience.“
“I particularly enjoyed, and had the most involvement in the ‘certification’ section; understanding what parameters the product, producer and installer had to abide by to achieve the mark of trust.”
Sam Crawford
“Participating in the Future Leaders Programme was a transformative experience that pushed me to grow both personally and professionally. Working on a project with no predefined roadmap taught me the importance of adaptability, resilience, and taking initiative. Despite the ambiguity, collaborating with a team of equally committed colleagues motivated me to stay engaged and focused, even during the more challenging moments.”
“One of the most rewarding aspects was learning from the diverse expertise within our group. Each member brought unique perspectives to the table, and seeing how our individual roles contributed to a shared purpose was incredibly inspiring. It was a powerful reminder of the collective impact we can make when we bring different skills and experiences together.”
Julia Drake
“Being part of the Future Leaders Programme was a transformative gift I didn’t realize my professional career needed. Collaborating with our diverse group taught me to view leadership through multiple perspectives, broadening my understanding of leadership and approach. Under Richard’s guidance, I discovered the power of empowering others and the fundamental need for a sense of belonging within teams. (Thank you Richard!)”
“Participating in the final team project was a fun and invaluable experience. I learned the importance of creating an environment where others can thrive, fostering genuine collaboration among us. Delegating tasks based on our strengths proved to be a game-changer for productivity. Observing and leading simultaneously helped me grow in confidence as a leader. Ultimately, the project underscored that with the right tools, support, and teamwork, success is always within reach. (Thank you FLP7 cohort.)”
Loide Matias da Silva
“I’d highly recommend and encourage the Net Zero Future Leaders Programme to anyone considering the course, no matter what stage of their career. Richard’s delivery of the course alongside multiple experts was engaging with a trust quickly built that meant the learning was on another level. The content has been hugely relevant to me since doing the course and there are applications I have taken through in both my day-to-day working and personal life. Thank you Richard and the rest of the FLP7 cohort.”
Rory Matthews
