Craig Gilhome from Prudhoe in Northumberland has been named as the UK’s Best Heating Installer 2025, which was announced earlier this month at a ceremony at Birmingham NEC.
Having won the title of Best Heating Installer in the North East earlier in the year, Craig went on to beat finalists from all other regions in the UK, and takes home the coveted award.
Craig entered the awards with a project that he had completed on an 18-room house on an old farm. The remit saw him plan a complex project which required him to install a ground source heat pump, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, underfloor heating and more.
In its tenth year, the awards scheme celebrates installers who demonstrate exceptional technical ability, knowledge of the best sustainable products and the latest regulation, problem-solving and customer care.
Craig impressed the judges with his professionalism, the solutions he found to solve a very complex heating problem at his customer’s property, and his knowledge and experience. In a second part of the judging process Craig had to answer a technical question put together by an industry expert. Craig scored the highest in this challenge out of all his peers, sealing his overall win.
Commenting on his win, Craig said: “I’ve seen how winning this award can change the future for an installer, and I’m just so humbled to win in 2025. The people I’ve been up against are some of the biggest names in the trade today. I knew I’d done a great job on a really challenging project, and I’m so happy that the work I put in has been recognised.”
In addition to the national title, Craig also brought home the winner’s trophy for Best HVAC Installer 2025 [heating, ventilation and air conditioning], which was a new award introduced last year, making Craig the second ever winner. The award celebrates installers who have delivered a system to customers that not only heats but also cools their homes, improving air quality and ventilation.
Craig added: “What a year! Two national awards in one day! This will spur me on to keep delivering the best work for my customers. I’m looking forward to celebrating, but then getting back home and continuing with the projects I’m running at the moment.
Alongside the industry-wide recognition that comes with the prestigious accolade, Craig will enjoy a variety of prizes provided by award sponsors.
Speaking of Craig’s win, his customer said: “It was a very professional, sophisticated system. Craig really cares about his work and he has stood out amongst the other trades working on my project as a really excellent installer.”
The nationwide awards scheme recognises the achievements and raises the credibility of plumbers and heating installers across the country who deliver excellent customer service on a daily basis. Representatives from the awards’ partners and sponsors CIPHE, The IPG, Polypipe Building Products, Refresh, Samsung Climate Solutions, Stelrad and Powered Now, as well as a team of previous winning installers, judged the entries on problem solving, product knowledge and stand out work.
