Commenting on his appointment, Sharp said he is determined to tackle the ongoing workforce crisis and apprenticeship funding stagnation while championing a future-ready industry in the transition towards net-zero.

“Becoming SNIPEF president is a great honour for me, and I see it as an opportunity to give something back to a profession that gave me a livelihood,” he added. “I am excited and motivated to see how we can move forward for the benefit of our members and what we can do to deliver positive change to the plumbing and heating profession.”

Duncan Sharp began his career in the gas industry over 50 years ago, joining Scottish Gas as an apprentice. He developed hands-on expertise in the installation and servicing of gas central heating systems, progressing into system design for both domestic and commercial applications. He also provided technical support to installation teams across the Scottish Gas regions.

His career later moved into sales and technical consultancy, where he represented Sunvic. Duncan worked closely with local authorities, Scottish Gas, housebuilders and independent installers, advising on the benefits of modern control systems.

He subsequently joined ACL, where his leadership qualities led to a series of promotions culminating in his appointment as UK sales director. In this role, he managed a team of 35 across sales and support offices and was responsible for a turnover of £70 million. Building on this experience and driven by a strong belief in renewable energy, he founded his own company, Grange Energy Services Limited, in 2002.

In recent years, Duncan has expanded his contribution to the profession through leadership and governance roles. He has served as a director on the SNIPEF board since May 2023 and became a director/trustee of BPEC in July 2024.

With a career spanning hands-on engineering, senior leadership, renewable innovation and industry advocacy, Duncan brings a wealth of experience to his presidency. He remains committed to supporting SNIPEF members, championing skills development, and promoting a sustainable and forward-looking plumbing and heating profession.

The overarching theme of his presidency is to encourage growth, not only in membership numbers, but across all aspects of the organisation.

He explained: “Growth is really the key for me, and it touches every part of the profession. For me, it’s not just in terms of increasing member numbers. It’s about growth for everyone in the industry – individuals, their businesses, the membership, the recognition SNIPEF should have and our relationship with government.

“But it’s also to inspire greater ambition and confidence within plumbing and heating businesses, large and small, to embrace new opportunities and tackle the demands of a low-carbon future. If we can all grow together, the entire profession will thrive.”

Duncan is also passionate about confronting the challenges currently facing the industry and working closely with members to engage with government to influence positive change for the profession.

He said: “I am keenly aware that we face a difficult environment. Our profession has found itself in an increasingly self-perpetuating and vicious cycle, where the lack of available skilled workforce is impacting the growth potential of our members and rising costs are making apprentice recruitment unviable for many.

“I want to be part of the drive to break this cycle, ensuring the next generation continues to have access to career prospects and that our employers do not see apprentice recruitment as a risk, but an opportunity. SNIPEF has already been lobbying hard to secure more support, and I look forward to playing an active role in my presidency to help drive this forward for the benefit of our members and the skilled professionals of the future.”

“This Federation is over 100 years old”, Duncan added. “It has served as the voice of the plumbing and heating profession, advocating for high standards, championing training, and helping members navigate change. Now, as we look ahead, we must rise to the moment once again.”

Duncan’s presidency will run from 6 June 2025 until 5 June 2026