Abstract: The invention is for a heating pad for a container to lie against at least one external surface of the container, and apply thermal energy to the container, and any material therein, when needed. The pad consists of a foamed resilient substrate with a first presenting major surface substantially equal in area to the at least one external surface of the container. A heating cable is located on the first presenting major surface to form an electrical circuit that when energised provides the thermal energy. A planar sheet material is above the first presenting major surface, and below a second presenting major surface of the substrate, the planar sheet material extends past the first and second presenting major surfaces and sealed at a periphery to form an encapsulation of the substrate and heating cable. There is an electrical connection from the heating cable internally of the encapsulation to external of the encapsulation.