Ideal Heating has appointed Zoe Sims as its new technical training manager.
According to a company statement, Zoe has joined Ideal’s Expert Academy training arm, becoming the first female trainer in the business. She has been with Ideal Heating for 15 years, having joined the organisation’s technical team in 2009.
Zoe will help equip installers with the essential skills and knowledge required to work with both current and future heating solutions, it noted.
Zoe said: “To be able to take my vast experience working as a gas engineer and put it towards helping others develop is something I find incredibly fulfilling.
“Training has always been of interest to me so I am delighted to have joined Expert Academy.
“When I started at Ideal Heating 15 years ago on the technical team, I never could have imagined I’d be here helping to train people all these years later. I’m really proud, especially as I still find myself as one of the few women working in the industry.”
According to British Gas, just 0.2% of gas engineers working in the UK in 2023 were women.
She added: “While working in the technical team at Ideal Heating, advising installers and customers on our products, I realised I wanted to become a Gas Engineer myself.
“I decided to pursue the necessary training independently, attending evening and weekend classes. My dad was already in the heating industry, and introduced me to a friend who helped me gain practice experience.
“His support and guidance in those early days gave me the confidence to pursue this career.”