The Vaillant Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of The Vaillant Podcast, we’re celebrating the plumbing and heating industry with some amazing installer stories.

Mike Lacey is joined in the studio by Todd Glister, co-host of the Heating & Plumbing Show on Fix Radio – sponsored by Vaillant – for a chinwag about some weird and wonderful tales from installers and colleagues.

The pair spill the beans about embarrassing rookie mistakes, youthful mishaps and getting up to mischief on the job.

Plus, there’s amusing animal encounters and a tribute to those customers who go the extra mile.

Produced by Ed Adams, First Touch

Want to know more?

Follow Todd on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook

For industry hot topics, stories and more about how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit our In The Know installer hub

Got a plumbing story you’d like to share? Get in touch on X (Twitter), Instagram or Facebook, or email us at thevaillantpodcastuk@vaillant.com

Check out our YouTube channel

About The Vaillant Podcast

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. From mental health to marketing, and from fitness to finances, installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing.

Listen to more episodes of The Vaillant Podcast

Tell us what you think about The Vaillant Podcast on our socials or email us at thevaillantpodcastuk@vaillant.com

It’s a new year and a new start – so in this episode of The Vaillant Podcast, we’re talking about business planning.

How can installer businesses get organised and put plans in place to help them take on 2024 in the best possible shape?

Joining host Mark Wilkins is Lee Tilbury of Hampshire-based Neater Heat, who brings some brilliant business planning advice to the show.

They chat about managing increased workloads during the winter months, how using technology helps Lee to keep on top of tax, and look ahead to new legislation that’s affecting the industry this year and beyond.

Plus, Lee explains why it’s vital to get out to trade shows and reveals his favourite Vaillant products.

Produced by Ed Adams, First Touch

Want to know more?

We always recommend talking to your accountant for financial advice about the tax issues discussed in this episode.

Find out more about MCS, the Future Homes Standard and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme

Check out the trade shows coming up in 2024: PHEX, Homebuilding & Renovating Show, Fully Charged Live and InstallerSHOW

Discover the aroTHERM plus heat pump and the ecoFIT pure combi boiler

For industry hot topics, stories and more about how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit our In The Know installer hub

Follow Vaillant on X (Twitter), Instagram or Facebook

Check out our YouTube channel

About The Vaillant Podcast

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. From mental health to marketing, and from fitness to finances, installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing.

Listen to more episodes of The Vaillant Podcast

Tell us what you think about The Vaillant Podcast on our socials or email us at thevaillantpodcastuk@vaillant.com

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives: from mental health to marketing, fitness to finances; installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing. 

In this episode, we’ll be covering the topic of women in heating and chatting to a couple of guests to ask about what inspired them to consider a career in plumbing and heating, any misconceptions they have had to deal with, and what can be done to encourage more women into the industry.

Joining host Simon Whysall on The Vaillant Podcast are Heather Clark and Clare King.

Heather Clark has been in the industry around 14 years. She completed a four-year apprenticeship and went on to start her own company, Clark Gas Ltd. Heather is also a Vaillant service agent, and she is located in Nottingham.

Clare King runs her own business, Pink Lady Plumbing and Heating, providing excellent service to those in Northampton and surrounding areas. She specialises in power flushing, boiler installations and repairs, as well as under floor heating installations. 

To listen to other episodes of both The Vaillant Podcast and the Technical Series visit: www.buzzsprout.com/840097

For more information on how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit www.vaillant.co.uk/businesssupport and follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

For more information from Pink Lady Plumbing, please visit https://www.pinkladyplumbing.co.uk/ and follow on Facebook.

 Low Temperature Systems Part 2 with Mark Wilkins, Martin Butcher, Simon Melbourne, and Christian Ford

 The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. From mental health to marketing, fitness to finances; installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing. 

On the second part of this podcast, we’ll be looking at what installers need to know when it comes to having conversations with homeowners around low temperature heating systems and their benefits, together with the changes installers should be aware of when it comes to servicing low temperature systems.

As with the first part of this episode, Mark Wilkins is again joined by Martin Butcher, Technical Quality Manager at Vaillant, Simon Melbourne, System Sales and Design Manager at Vaillant and Christian ford from Indigo Renewables.

Christian Ford is a director at Indigo Renewables in Leicestershire. Established over 13 years ago, its team has over 30 years’ experience in the heating and renewable sector, providing specialist installation of air and ground source heat pumps along with biomass and solar thermal systems across the whole of the midlands region.

 Want to find out more about low temperature heating systems?

You can find part one of this podcast here: LINK once ep is live

To find out more about Vaillant’s low temperature heating systems, please visit: https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/

Looking for information on the training courses Vaillant offers, please visit: https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/

Finally, to listen to other episodes of both The Vaillant Podcast and the Technical Series visit: www.buzzsprout.com/840097

For more information on how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit www.vaillant.co.uk/businesssupport and follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

For more information from Indigo Renewables, please visit https://indigorenewables.co.uk/ and follow on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Low Temperature Systems Part 1 with Mark Wilkins, Martin Butcher, Simon Melbourne, and Christian Ford

 The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. From mental health to marketing, fitness to finances; installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing. 

In part 1 of this episode of The Vaillant Podcast we’ll be covering the recent changes to Part L, which came into play from June 2022 and how heating systems fitted in new build properties must now be designed to run at a lower flow temperature of 55 degrees and the importance of system design in overall efficiency.

Joining host Mark Wilkins on The Vaillant Podcast is Martin Butcher, Technical Quality Manager at Vaillant, Simon Melbourne, System Sales and Design Manager at Vaillant and Christian ford from Indigo Renewables.

Christian Ford is a director at Indigo Renewables in Leicestershire. Established over 13 years ago, its team has over 30 years’ experience in the heating and renewable sector, providing specialist installation of air and ground source heat pumps along with biomass and solar thermal systems across the whole of the midlands region.

 Want to find out more about low temperature heating systems?

To find out more about Vaillant’s low temperature heating systems, please visit: https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/

Looking for information on the training courses Vaillant offers, please visit: https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/

Finally, to listen to other episodes of both The Vaillant Podcast and the Technical Series visit: www.buzzsprout.com/840097

For more information on how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit www.vaillant.co.uk/businesssupport and follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

For more information from Indigo Renewables, please visit https://indigorenewables.co.uk/ and follow on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. From mental health to marketing, fitness to finances; installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing. 

In this episode of The Vaillant Podcast we asked installers on social media what they wanted to know about the heating industry’s low carbon future. From questions on MCS accreditation, to homeowner incentives such as the recently launched Boiler Upgrade Scheme and having those initial conversations with homeowner, this podcast covers the questions that matter the most to you.

Joining host Mark Wilkins on this episode of The Vaillant Podcast is Ian Rippin CEO at MCS and Peter Carruthers, owner of PA Carruthers Ltd.

As CEO at MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), Ian is responsible for leading the charge when it comes to the growth of the installation of renewables in homes and small businesses. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme has certified over a million installations since it was launched in 2007 and has nearly 2,000 installers currently registered.

Meanwhile, Peter, is the owner of PA Carruthers Ltd, which has been established since 1994. Predominantly working in off-mains gas areas, PA Carruthers Ltd provides a range of heating and plumbing services across west Wales.  MCS Certified, Peter and his team have a strong reputation for installing renewable and low carbon technologies in both domestic and commercial markets.

Looking at the low carbon landscape, both Ian and Peter offer their first-hand support and expertise on how installers can successfully navigate a low carbon future.

 Want to find out more about going green?

To learn more about Part L visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conservation-of-fuel-and-power-approved-document-l 

You can find out more about the MCS and how you start your journey to certification here: https://mcscertified.com/installers-manufacturers/becoming-certified/ 

To learn more about the UK Government’s commitment to a net zero future, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy 

For more information on the Low Temperature Heating Systems training course, visit: XX

More information on Vaillant’s training, including blended learning courses, which are designed to take you from heat pump zero to hero, can be found here: https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/course-information/ 

Details on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and how installers / homeowners can access this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-may-be-eligible-for-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-from-april-2022 

Low carbon technology training courses available from Vaillant can be found at https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/online-training/ 

Finally, to listen to other episodes...

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. From mental health to marketing, fitness to finances; installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing. 

In this episode of The Vaillant Podcast we tackle the topic of the Internet of Things (IOT), how we can define it, and how the IOT and connected devices are enabling installers to work smarter not harder.

In this episode, host Simon Whysall is joined by guests Grant Gundelfinger and Karen Matthews from the Mayfly Group Ltd, together with Kenny Virdee, IOT partnership manager at Vaillant, to explore the ways in which connected devices are becoming increasingly popular within the home and how those working in the plumbing and heating industry can utilise this technology to introduce new business services and models.

Since joining Vaillant more than 20 years ago as a service engineer, Kenny Virdee is now responsible for the successful implementation and delivery of Vaillant’s own IOT strategy. Working with a skilled team Kenny manages the integration of Vaillant’s own technology to support the day-to-day lives of installers.

Heating Installer of the Year 2021 winner, Grant Gundelfinger is a co-founder and director at the Mayfly Group Ltd, which is based in Leeds. With more than 15 years experience, Grant is familiar with the role connected devices can have on the way he runs his business.

Since starting her career in the industry in 2008, Karen Matthews, who is Grant’s business partner, and director & co-founder at the Mayfly Group Ltd, has championed the way she and her business can utilise technology to deliver the very best in service for customers.

 Want to find out more?

To learn more about MyVAILLANT Pro, and how it can allow installers to offer customers extra levels of service, visit: www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/business-support/support-tools/myvaillant-pro/ 

For Vaillant Advance installers interested in signing up to the current free trial of myVAILLANT Pro, which runs until April 2022, visit: www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/advance-loyalty-scheme/ 

For more on the vSMART control and Vaillant’s existing range of smart heating controls, visit: www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/products/controls-and-thermostats/smart-controls/

For information on the training courses from Vaillant on its portfolio of smart controls, visit www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/

Finally, to listen to other episodes of both The Vaillant Podcast and the Technical Series visit: www.buzzsprout.com/840097

For more information on how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives: from mental health to marketing, fitness to finances; installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing. 

Revisiting the topic of the very first episode of The Vaillant Podcast, in this episode, Simon Whysall chats with Dr Luke Sullivan and Oliver Stark to learn more about mental health and how we can open up and have those all-important conversations with our employers.

Dr Luke Sullivan is a clinical psychologist within the NHS and on top of this is also the founder of Men’s Minds Matter, a not-for-profit organisation that was created in 2009. The charity is dedicated to the prevention of male suicide by building psychological resilience and emotional strength.

Oliver Stark is a heating engineer at Plumbgas based in Stafford. Having worked within the industry for more than a decade Oliver was previously self-employed before joining Plumbgas in 2020 and is a strong advocate for mental health issues.

 For further support on mental health visit:

To learn more about the support offered by Dr Luke Sullivan and the team at Men’s Minds Matter visit: https://www.mensmindsmatter.org/ 

NHS resources for stress, anxiety and depression: www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/

MIND, the mental health charity

www.mind.org.uk

You can listen to the first episode in The Vaillant Podcast series on mental health here https://www.buzzsprout.com/840097/episodes/2588905 

For more information on how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit www.vaillant.co.uk/businesssupport and follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. In this shorter series our team of industry experts are joined by a host of guests to dive into the detail when it comes to a range of technical topics.

In this episode, Mark Wilkins speaks to two guests: Andrew Ireland and Michael Dawes to better understand how the Vaillant range of senso controls is helping make installers’, and their customers, lives easier - both now and into the future. Listeners can also hear first-hand from Andrew on some exciting developments which are on the horizon for the senso range over the coming months too.

Michael Dawes is the owner of Your Plumbing. Based in Northumbria, and with over a decade’s experience working in the trade, Michael works within the domestic market and is a Which? accredited Trusted Trader.

Mark Wilkins Training and Technologies Director at Vaillant. Having worked in the heating industry for more than 35 years, Mark heads up Vaillant’s training programme across the UK to external customers including specifiers, installers and designers.  

Andrew Ireland is Vaillant’s Digital Technologies Development Manager. As part of his role Andrew develops and manages the connected product hardware and software portfolio at Vaillant and was heavily involved in bringing the senso range of controls to market. 

Taking control with senso. Want to know more?

Want to find out more about the Vaillant range of senso controls? Visit: www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/products/controls-and-thermostats/senso-range/ 

For information on the range of training courses available from Vaillant, including an introduction to the senso range, visit: www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/training/online-training/ 

If you would like to learn more about Vaillant’s range of heat pumps, which when combined with advanced controls allows installers to create a ‘total system solution’ visit: www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/products/renewable-systems/ 

Vaillant Advance, for exclusive product offers, cash and credit rewards, extended guarantees: www.vaillant-advance.co.uk

Finally, to listen to other episodes of both The Vaillant Podcast and the Technical Series visit: www.buzzsprout.com/840097 

For more information on how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit www.vaillant.co.uk/businesssupport and follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. In this shorter series our team of industry experts are joined by a host of guests to dive into the detail when it comes to a range of technical topics.

In this episode Mark Wilkins speaks to two guests: Paul Honeyman and Neil Macdonald to examine the role water quality plays in an efficient heating system. In addition, the episode also covers Vaillant’s Advance Boiler Protection Kit, which activates an extended 10-year guarantee, when installed with the Vaillant ecoTEC exclusive, ecoTEC plus and ecoFIT pure boilers, and registered via Advance.

Neil Macdonald is Technical Manager at the Heating & Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC). Neil’s role sees him co-ordinating industry stake-holder engagement on a range of technical and policy focused issues. In addition, Neil is also responsible for a range of HHIC stake-holder groups, including the HHIC Boiler Technical Panel (which includes all major UK boiler manufacturers). 

Mark Wilkins Training and Technologies Director at Vaillant. Having worked in the heating industry for more than 35 years, Mark heads up Vaillant’s training programme across the UK to external customers including specifiers, installers and designers.  

Paul Honeyman is head of product management at Vaillant and has been with the business for more than 15 years. Paul’s current role sees him oversee all product management activity across the Vaillant UK business.

 Want to know more about water quality and its role in system efficiency?

Want to find out more about the Vaillant Advance Boiler Protection Kit, which when installed with the ecoFIT pure comes with an impressive 10 year guarantee? Visit www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/products/advance-protection-kit-79361.html 

For information on the range of training courses available from Vaillant including its online Water Quality course, visit: www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/training/online-training/ 

Vaillant Advance, for exclusive product offers, cash and credit rewards, extended guarantees: www.vaillant-advance.co.uk

To listen to other episodes of both The Vaillant Podcast and the Technical Series visit: www.buzzsprout.com/840097 

Finally, more information on the HHIC, listeners can visit: www.hhic.org.uk/ 

For more information on how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit www.vaillant.co.uk/businesssupport and follow us on Twitter, Instagram or