The government has banned the installation of gas boilers in new build houses after 2025 and while there will still be millions in use around the country, the law of supply and demand will quickly reduce the number of gas engineers that the UK requires.

In a country striving for a carbon-neutral economy, where coal is both metaphorically and literally a dirty word, it was hardly surprising that gas joined the green hit list of fuels.

Manufacturers will be looking for products to replace their boilers over the next 10 years and they may not be the only ones. Ibstock and Michelmersh, alongside other UK brick producers, may also need to consider the future of their product.