Two young apprentices have been rewarded for their efforts after helping a college switch to a renewable heating system.

Elijah Jordan, 18, from Burnley, and Jack Shaw, 21 from Halifax, are currently studying for their Gas Engineering Operative Level 3 Apprenticeship at Blackburn College.

The duo helped to fit the college’s new Daikin air source heat pump – an environmentally-friendly heating system which absorbs natural heat from outside air and turns it into water, before compressing and condensing it into heat which can be stored for use.

The pumps are an important part of the new technologies and low carbon solutions being used by Blackburn College and the apprentices’ employer, Together Housing.

Elijah and Jack are part of a team of apprentices employed by social housing provider Together Housing as it looks to invest in young people in communities where it works.

They were recognised for their efforts in a special celebration event hosted by Blackburn College and supported by their tutors and managers, during which the duo received a thank you gift of vouchers from the college.

Elijah said: “I’m really enjoying my apprenticeship. I’m getting a lot of experience.

“We’d mainly been working on gas boilers so working on a heat pump was quite different. But once we’d got the hang of it, it was pretty much plain sailing.

“I’ve always wanted to be in a trade and would love to work on more renewable energy systems like this going forward.”

Jack said: “The apprenticeship is going well and I’m picking up lots of knowledge across a range of different systems so I can be specialised in new skills as well as traditional plumbing.

“This heat pump was different as we had to use different tools, but it’s all good experience.”

The cutting-edge skills used by the pair will benefit communities as Together Housing presses ahead with its plans to retrofit thousands of homes across the region in a move towards renewable energy.

The organisation intends to invest £120m in green energy projects across its 37,000 homes, moving fully away from fossil fuels by 2035. So far, it has completed more than 3,000 renewable energy projects as it looks to halve its operational carbon impact by 2030.

Gas specialist services manager at Together Housing, Andy Neville, said: “We’re very proud of the lads for their dedication to their apprenticeships. They’re always very keen to learn and find out how they can put that learning into practice. It’s great to see our collaboration with the community paying off like this.”

Director of business development and external engagement at Blackburn College, Nicola Clayton, said: “Our gas apprentices Jack and Elijah from Together Housing worked well in collaboration with the college and Daikin to install the heat pumps. 

“The completed installation of the air source heat pump at the Saturn Centre has enabled us to launch the BPEC qualification designed for plumbers, heating engineers, oil or gas engineers who wish to install heat pump systems.

“This is one of many renewable energy projects we are currently offering at Blackburn College.”