FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
Madeleine Ford reports from the new Zehnder Group UK training academy which aims to raise standards and close the skills gap across the HVAC industry
ehnder Group UK has a wealth of experience in the fields of heating, cooling, ventilation and air quality control. The company is now putting a growing emphasis on education and technical support across the supply chain. The recent launch of the Zehnder Academy places training and skills development at the centre of its UK strategy.
The newly launched Academy reflects the recognition across the building services industry that skills, knowledge, and consistency are central to delivering buildings that perform as intended. The Academy has been created to address a very real gap between increasingly sophisticated ventilation systems and the skills required to design, install, commission and maintain them effectively.
ADDRESSING THE SKILLS GAP
The building services and facilities management sectors are facing sustained pressure from evolving regulations, net zero targets, and heightened expectations around occupant health. At the same time, ventilation skills shortages continue to challenge the industry. Tony Rendell, Head of Customer Excellence at Zehnder Group UK, believes that by providing structured, practical, and technically robust training, the Academy will raise standards and help ensure systems perform as intended throughout their lifecycle. He said: “For the FM sector, this means fewer performance issues, improved indoor air quality, better energy efficiency and reduced operational risk. Ultimately, raising competence at every stage of a system’s life raises standards across the entire built environment.”
Servicing, maintenance, and having the knowledge of how the systems work is essential to protecting people’s health and wellbeing. If neglected, problems can occur that put people’s lives at risk. By improving understanding of ventilation fundamentals, regulations, commissioning and maintenance, the Academy will help create a more competent and consistent approach across the industry.
Rendell explains: “Over time, this knowledge-sharing approach will contribute to higher expectations, better collaboration between disciplines, and a more professionalised approach to ventilation within building services.”
THE TRAINING DETAILS
The Academy is targeting a broad audience, including contractors, service partners, consultants, apprentices, students and FM professionals. This cross-disciplinary approach reflects the reality of how buildings are delivered and managed, and supports better collaboration between those responsible for design, installation and ongoing operation.
In its first 12 months, Zehnder UK expects to train up to 750 individuals, with more than 200 sign-ups secured ahead of the official launch. In terms of training, the initial modules have been chosen to have the biggest impact on system performance and long-term building health; they will be ventilation planning, system commissioning, maintenance, and the fundamentals of indoor air quality and thermal comfort.
Rather than concentrating solely on product features, the training explores how systems interact with wider building performance, covering airflow balancing, system set up, fault identification and long-term optimisation. Rendell explains that as the Academy develops, additional modules will be introduced to reflect evolving regulations, new technologies, smart controls, energy efficiency and emerging best practice across both residential and commercial buildings.
The training centre has been designed as a hands-on, applied learning environment rather than a traditional classroom setting. The emphasis is on practical understanding – ensuring that those attending leave not just with theoretical knowledge, but with the confidence to apply it on site and in live building environments.
LOOKING AHEAD
The UK Academy is the 11th of its kind across Europe and Zehnder Group plans to launch more, forming part of a wider group strategy to establish a gold standard of training excellence internationally.
While hands-on, in-person training remains central to the Academy’s approach, Zehnder UK have designed the facility as a scalable platform. Plans are in place to expand the programme through digital learning, webinars and hybrid formats to improve accessibility and reach a wider audience.
Success in the first year will be measured across several areas, including attendee feedback, satisfaction levels and ongoing engagement with industry partners. Long-term indicators will include improvements in installation quality, commissioning outcomes and reductions in avoidable service and warranty issues. “Ultimately, better trained people lead to better performing systems and stronger customer relationships”, says Rendell.
CONCLUSION
Zehnder UK’s message is simple: this training is designed to support you in doing your job better, more efficiently, and with greater confidence. Rendell continues: “The Academy is all about sharing knowledge, best practice and practical skills that directly support compliance, system performance and occupant wellbeing. Whether you’re responsible for maintaining complex buildings or overseeing long-term asset performance, the Academy offers valuable, applicable learning that delivers real operational benefits.”
