Aira opens first Scottish hub in Stirling
The Swedish heat pump giant’s latest phase of a £300million UK investment will lay the ground for a new training facility.
Located on the Springkerse Industrial Estate in Stirling, the new Aira hub has already created 30 highly skilled jobs for the local area, but this figure is set to increase exponentially in the coming years.
The 14,500 square foot facility will operate as a central service point for all Aira customers in Scotland. However, in 2025 a new Aira Academy will also open at the location, helping train and prepare the next generation of HVAC engineers in low and zero carbon infrastructure and solutions.
According to the company’s own research, 32% of the Scottish public – around 1.5million people – are considering a heat pump in the future. This is being partly driven by Government policy, with grants of up to £7,500, and additional loans of a further £7,500, currently available to cover costs associated with installing the technology.
However, as Environment Journal recently reported, an investigation under the Freedom of Information Act by the Scottish Liberal Democrats found that just 2,085 heat pumps had been installed through the Home Energy Scotland scheme in the 12 months to August 2024. In comparison, a similar UK-wide initiative gives out the same number of grants each month.
‘Aira is one of Europe’s fastest growing clean energy-tech companies, and it’s great to see that they have chosen Stirling as the base for their Scottish operations. This will mean dozens of new jobs for the local community today – potentially hundreds as the business grows – and an exciting career ahead for the next generation of heat pump installers,’ said Evelyn Tweed, Member of Parliament for Stirling.
‘The Scottish Government has an ambitious target to convert thousands of homes from fossil fuel heating to cleaner alternatives such as air source heat pumps,’ she continued. ‘If we achieve that goal, we will not only help to make energy more affordable and secure for all Scots but become one of the most energy efficient countries anywhere in the world. Many people living in rural areas are not on mains gas and pay a great deal for alternative sources of energy, so a greener, cheaper alternative is welcome.’
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