The need for green skills: upskilling the workforce of the future

Leading the energy transition through skills

To deliver the decarbonisation of heating, we need a skilled workforce. But there’s currently a green skills shortage in the UK when it comes to experienced heat pump installers and engineers¹. We’re tackling this head on at our Net Zero Training Academy in Kingswinford, where we’re upskilling and the next generation of Britain’s green collar workforce.

It’s here where we’re training our colleagues in the skills and capabilities to lead the transition to a future of more affordable and more sustainable energy in our homes and businesses, as well as across communities and entire cities.

Our engineers are developing the skills required to install everything from smart meters to electric vehicle (EV) chargers, solar panels and battery storage and air source heat pumps. The green skills they’re honing are crucial if we’re to decarbonise heating and enable households and communities up and down the country to access the benefits of energy flexibility.

We’re proud of each and every one of our colleagues who are equipping themselves with the skills needed to thrive in a greener future. Since unveiling our Net Zero Training Academy in 2023, engineers have completed training in everything from electric energy storage systems to heat pump installations.

These engineers are now out and about installing sustainable solutions for homes, businesses and communities up and down the country, helping people across the UK to benefit from low carbon heating and renewable electricity.

Democratising access to training

We’re ensuring more people, and not just our colleagues, have access to this training, specifically young people. We’re partnering with schools and colleges across the country to educate a wider community and help address the skills gap in green skills.

We’re working with schools and colleges to grant access to our online training platform which includes a mix of training aids such as videos, overlays, talkback and practical demonstrations. Plus, we’re even visiting some colleges to deliver in-person training sessions, like at Hugh Baird College in Liverpool.

Powering up the next generation with Dudley College

We’re going one step further with our partnership with Dudley College. We’re training young people with essential green skills by leveraging the strengths of both organisations. Together, we’re to truly making a difference to young people wanting to develop green skills and enter the energy sector.

Through this collaboration, many students have gained invaluable hands-on experience at E.ON, developing the practical skills needed for successful careers in the energy sector. Many apprentices have since gone into full-time roles as engineers and technicians, delivering sustainable energy solutions directly to customers’ homes or businesses.

And we’re now working helping Dudley College to develop a new net zero solutions training centre in the heart of Dudley. Together, we’ll equip students with the skills needed to lead the charge in low-carbon technologies – and ensuring the West Midlands remains at the forefront of energy innovation.

Commenting on the partnership Karl Townsend, Curriculum Manager for Electrical Engineering at Dudley College of Technology, said: “It’s been highly beneficial for both staff and students to work with one of the leading national companies in this sector, in the UK. By passing on their up-to-date knowledge and allowing students access to the latest technology, skills and learning have been accelerated. In particular, we’re grateful to Stewart Hartshorne [Technical Training and Development Specialist at E.ON’s Net Zero Academy] who has worked closely with our students by helping to develop their industry placement programme and mentoring them through it.“

“E.ON have supported us continually by attending trade events, by kindly donating tools and equipment as prizes for our student of the year awards and inspiring students to follow a career in this sector. We hope to work closely together for years to come.”

Bringing green skills to life for young people

We know an interest in green skills needs to be cultivated and fostered early in the next generation and with our New Energy Academy we’re helping to inspire young people about the possibilities green skills can bring.

Our recently launched New Energy Academy aims to develop and inspire excitement in schoolchildren to build a green career. Our free curriculum-linked resources, developed in partnership with teachers, bring real-life context to the curriculum and inspire more young people to develop the knowledge and skills that will equip them to build a brighter future for themselves and make a difference in the world.

And we’re doing just that. Over half (59%) our pilot group stated they can now describe what a green career involves and almost two thirds (66%) of students now believe they personally could work in the energy industry if they wanted to².

We’re also a ‘Skills Investor’ with Skills Street in South Yorkshire, which aims to welcome, inspire and inform approximately 16,000 school aged students each year. This gives us an amazing platform to develop the workforce of the future with the skills needed for the new energy world and showcase the breadth of opportunities across both E.ON and the energy sector. Together, we’re working to deliver STEM learning and workshops to really bring to life the energy transition for young people.

We’re proud to be training and upskilling the green collar workforce of the future, from current engineers to future trailblazers. Check out our New Energy Academy for a host of resources and activities all about green skills and careers.