‘Building the next generation of green skills’ by Degree Apprentice, Phoebe Lees
As the UK accelerates towards net zero, green skills matter now more than ever before.
For young people entering the energy industry – including myself and fellow degree apprentices – developing the knowledge and capabilities needed for a cleaner future is essential. That’s why visiting E.ON’s Net Zero Training Academy was such an exciting and insightful opportunity.
Green skills are the practical and technical skills required to deliver cleaner, smarter and more efficient energy solutions. Right now, green careers are growing faster than the number of qualified workers to fill them, creating a skills gap across the industry. These skills aren’t just limited to engineers or technicians, they span every sector, from construction, and logistics to finance and communications. This is because sustainability has become a significant part of all industries. Sustainability is now embedded in every sector, which makes initiatives like the Net Zero Academy vital. They equip people with the skills, knowledge and mindset needed to drive real change.
Located in Kingswinford, the Net Zero Training Academy is a national hub where engineers from across Britain develop the expertise needed to install key low-carbon technologies—including smart meters, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, solar panels, battery storage systems and air source heat pumps. It’s helping build the country’s future green-collar workforce and ensure we have the skills to meet growing demand.
For apprentices like myself, visiting the academy was an invaluable experience. For many young people joining the industry straight from school or college, the breadth of green technologies can feel overwhelming. Having the chance to see these solutions up close, and to learn directly from the experts delivering them, made everything feel far more tangible and accessible. During the visit, we toured the Academy’s hands-on training environment and took part in four interactive workshops covering solar panels, EV chargers, air source heat pumps and battery storage. Each workshop was practical, engaging and genuinely inspiring.
Amy Cooper, Project Management Degree Apprentice, added: “From a project management perspective, the visit highlighted how critical structured planning, risk management and cross functional collaboration are to delivering low carbon technologies. Seeing the end-to-end training process gave me a deeper appreciation of how these skills support the successful rollout of smart meters, EV chargers and heat pumps across the UK.”
As someone who has only been in the industry for seven months, the experience gave me a chance to reflect on the innovative solutions that are being developed to make energy cleaner, greener and more affordable. I, and I’m sure others have too, arrived not entirely knowing what the day was going to bring. But the visit showed that everyone has a role to play in the energy transition – not just those physically installing the technologies. As a digital marketer it allowed me to understand how my own skills can support this shift.
Harry Rose, Digital Technology Degree Apprentice, saw great value in the visit too, saying the day “really highlighted the importance of smart data, integrated systems and reliable digital platforms in making low carbon technologies work effectively. Understanding how solar panels, heat pumps and EV chargers communicate through digital networks gave me a clearer picture of the innovation happening behind the scenes in the energy transition. It helped me see how my future work in developing and maintaining digital systems will directly support the rollout and optimisation of these technologies.”
That’s why apprenticeships at E.ON provide an incredible pathway into green careers. Having opportunities like this don’t just build technical understanding – they help to empower young people to build confidence, technical skills and purpose. It’s a true investment in the next generation of talent and in the energy transition.