IN Brief:
- Branch-based training centres are being opened to upskill solar and storage installers.
- Manufacturer-led sessions cover product commissioning, installation practice, and certification routes.
- The programme starts in Sheffield and Port Talbot, with Livingston scheduled next.
HDM Solar has launched a new branch-based training initiative designed to provide free product and technical training for renewable energy installers, with purpose-built Renewables Training Centres of Excellence located on-site at its UK branches.
The centres are structured to support hands-on learning rather than classroom-only instruction. Each site includes a commissioning area where installers can practise with live products, alongside working systems from selected partner manufacturers and breakout spaces intended for product interaction and focused study.
Training sessions are delivered by HDM Solar specialists and supplier partners, giving installers direct access to manufacturer guidance on installation practice, commissioning steps, and product configuration. Early sessions have included GSE Intégration training on its portrait system and the landscape Evolution system, with participants able to complete the course as GSE Intégration Trained Installers.
The programme is also scheduled to include technical and product training with partners such as EcoFlow and Sungrow, with sessions positioned around a practical understanding of product ranges and installation requirements.
Ed Scott, Commercial Manager at HDM Solar, said: “The Renewables Training Centres of Excellence have been designed to support installers in their growth and development in the market. It’s all about keeping our customers at the forefront of new industry developments and bringing our customers closer to our manufacturing partners so they feel valued and up to date with the newest products and innovations.”
Sheffield and Port Talbot are already equipped and delivering sessions, and Livingston is set to follow. The company’s format aligns with a broader industry shift toward competence assurance as solar PV, domestic storage, and hybrid inverter systems move deeper into mainstream retrofit and new-build work, with increasingly product-specific commissioning steps and configuration requirements.
For wholesalers, the approach also reflects a service model that goes beyond stock availability into technical support, installation readiness, and reduced call-backs, particularly as system complexity increases and installation timelines tighten. For manufacturers, the centres provide a controlled environment to demonstrate correct installation methods, drive consistency, and support certification pathways that can reduce downstream warranty disputes and misapplication in the field.
The roll-out is expected to continue through additional branches, with training calendars built around partner availability and regional installer demand.
