A retainer for connecting two panels of a heat shield assembly, the retainer comprising: a central elongate panel having a length l and a width w, a top end, a bottom end and first and second long sides extending from the top end to the bottom end; a first side panel extending along the first long side of the central elongate panel and a second side panel extending along the second long side of the central elongate panel; a first U-shaped fold joining the central elongate panel first long side to the first side panel, and a second U-shaped fold joining the second long side to the second side panel.