E.ON sees degree apprenticeship applications treble as school leavers rethink university-only routes

Applications for E.ON UK’s degree apprenticeships have more than trebled in three years, as new research suggests more school leavers are looking beyond traditional university routes and prioritising paid, workplace-based pathways into skilled careers, including those helping to power the energy transition.

In research commissioned by the energy supplier among Britain’s 16- to 18-year-olds, more than two thirds (68%) said apprenticeships help young people gain workplace skills faster than university, while 67% cited student debt as a key factor in their decision-making.

The research comes just weeks after the Prime Minister announced plans to put technical education on an equal footing with traditional academic routes, including giving 14-year-olds earlier access to technical skills, work experience and links with employers.

Popularity of green, purposeful careers driving the appetite for future careers

Interest in green careers is strong, but young people are unsure how to access them. Almost three in five (57%) teenagers believe green jobs are of higher value than traditional roles, while almost half (45%) would consider starting a green job now instead of following a traditional higher education route. However, almost half (44%) say they lack clarity on green career routes, while 28% say their school or college does not do enough to explain those pathways.

E.ON is already opening up accessible routes into green careers through its New Energy Academy, bringing together qualifications like apprenticeships with early careers opportunities across engineering, data, project management, customer service and sustainability. By investing in future skills, E.ON is helping young people gain the hands-on expertise required to deliver greener, more affordable energy solutions across homes and businesses in the UK.

Purpose also matters. Almost half (45%) said being proud of the work they do is the biggest appeal of green jobs, while 40% cited playing a part in helping the environment. One in five (21%) said they would be prepared to accept a lower salary for a job that helps the environment.

The research also points to wide interest across green sectors, including renewable energy (30%), climate education (26%), sustainable construction and design (25%) and environmental conservation (25%).

Rise in AI and automation also playing a role

AI and automation are also shaping career choices, with many teenagers thinking more carefully about the skills and roles that could give them long-term job security.

More than a third (36%) said AI has encouraged them to explore careers less likely to be automated, including green careers, while 30% said it had made them reconsider careers that could be replaced by automation. E.ON says this points to growing demand for roles that combine practical, human-centred skills with long-term resilience in a changing job market.

Helen Bradbury, Chief People Officer at E.ON UK, said:

“The choices young people make after school are changing. More are questioning whether university is the only route into a rewarding career, and many are looking for options that combine high-quality training, paid work and long-term prospects.

“That is why we are proud to offer paid apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship programmes that give school leavers a genuine alternative to university, while helping them develop the practical skills needed to shape the UK’s energy future and deliver the transition to cleaner, more affordable energy.”

23-year-old Lucia Bond recently completed E.ON’s Project Management Degree Apprenticeship and has now gone on to secure a permanent role within the company. She said:

“A degree apprenticeship has given me the chance to earn while I learn, build confidence in the workplace and be part of work that has a real purpose. For me, it showed there is more than one route into a great career, and that you do not have to choose between gaining a qualification and getting practical experience.”

The company was recognised as the UK’s Best Place to Work for 16 to 34-year-olds by The Sunday Times in 2025 and named among the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for 2026, reflecting its focus on helping people build the skills needed to shape the UK’s energy future.

For more information about early careers at E.ON, including how to register interest in E.ON’s September 2027 degree apprenticeship intake, visit E.ON’s early careers page.