Pioneering apprenticeship provides blueprint to plug UK green skills gap and accelerate smart meter rollout

A revolutionary apprenticeship has the potential to plug the UK’s green skills gap and accelerate progress towards Net Zero ambitions.

In July, Utilita Energy and Cheshire College

- South & West launched one of the firstever smart metering apprenticeships to be jointly delivered by an energy supplier and a Further Education provider – creating a unique partnership with a powerhouse of expertise.

By the end of the full 14-month course, eight pioneering apprentices will become fully qualified Dual Fuel Engineers with a Level 2 Smart Metering Diploma to their names.

While the inaugural scheme will cater for a relatively small group, Utilita – the world’s leading Smart Prepay Specialist – is hailing the model as the solution to two of the biggest challenges faced by the industry. These are: the green skills gap caused by a shortage of workers to fill the jobs needed to complete the green transition, alongside the Government-enforced smart meter installation targets.

Dan Greenwood is Training and Development Manager at Utilita, the company that installed Britain’s first ever smart meter in 2008. He said:

“Earlier this year, Shadow Secretary Ed Miliband described the green skills gap as one of the ‘four horsemen of the apocalypse’ when it comes to the UK’s energy transition.

“We confidently believe the apprenticeship scheme we will deliver can – and should – be used as the blueprint to plug that gap, all while accelerating the ever-important smart meter rollout.

“And, there are already talks in place to expand our very own scheme on a wider scale once our pioneers are fully qualified, feeding into Utilita’s overarching plan to train thousands of new engineers by 2030.

“It has been rewarding to work alongside Cheshire College thus far. We are proud to show just how the private and public sectors can join forces to tackle such pressing issues, and I’m delighted we will continue to make history together in such an impactful way.”

Initially, the apprentices will split their time between Cheshire College and Utilita’s industry-leading Training Academy in Warrington.

As the programme progresses, they will work alongside fully qualified engineers, both out in the field where they will be exposed to jobs of all natures, and within one-to-one mentoring sessions.

Karen Roberts, the Assistant Principal for Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement at Cheshire College, said that the collaboration with Utilita was another meaningful step forward for the College’s sustainable ambitions: “We are very excited to continue our longstanding partnership with Utilita, and to support with meeting the green skills agenda.

“As a College, we work closely with employers to drive economic growth through the development of future e-focused skills. Apprentices who achieve this Level 2 Smart Metering Diploma will play a significant role in helping the UK reach Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“Apprentices will greatly benefit from Utilita’s expert training alongside our state-of-the-art resources and facilities at College.”

Once complete, the cohort will be offered full-time contracts with Utilita and presented with further development opportunities in the renewables space, including Government-accredited heat pump training and hands-on education around solar PV.

The facilities at Cheshire College Alongside classroom-based learning at the 11,000-student College, the apprentices will learn within the on-site Sustainable House.

The £680,000 facility allows students to work in a real life setting which supports their skills and allows them to bring classroom theory into practice: working with the latest sustainable technologies including ground source heat pumps, photovoltaic solar panels, and green walls.

With sustainable construction and practices becoming ever more vital in relation to the UK’s Net Zero targets, the Sustainable House is a unique and invaluable facility in the local area; and one of several new facilities at Cheshire College thanks to a £200m investment in the latest technologies and real work environments.

Utilita’s one-stop-shop for green energy tech

Utilita’s Warrington Training Academy is one-of-a-kind.

It is the only establishment in the UK run by an energy supplier where anyone –from the business’ own staff to external companies - can extensively learn about smart metering as well as low carbon technologies including photovoltaic solar. Much like the Sustainable House, the site facilitates hands-on learning with dummy smart meters, EV chargers, solar panels and other industry technology.

All training programmes are driven by the necessity to support the industry and consumers, with a greener future in mind.