E.ON’s Connell Parker nominated for STEM Trailblazer at the Young Energy Professionals Awards

Hosted by Energy UK, the YEP Awards celebrate emerging talent across the energy industry, shining a spotlight on professionals in the first ten years of their careers who are shaping the future of energy.

We spoke to Connell about his journey from apprentice to innovator, and his commitment to using digital solutions to create a cleaner, more efficient energy future.

What inspired you to pursue a career in digital technology and energy, and how did your apprenticeship at E.ON shape that journey?

Growing up, I was surrounded by technology as both my parents worked in the IT industry. This early exposure meant I encountered coding at a young age, and I quickly became fascinated by the idea that I could turn my own ideas into something tangible. As I got older, I often dreamed about starting my own company and would sketch out different plans and brand concepts just for fun.

After hearing my Dad and Grandads stories about their experiences of being apprentices, I decided to go down the route myself with E.ON. E.ON gave me the freedom to learn, to try things and sometimes make mistakes, which enabled me to carry on building my ideas but with actual value and meaning behind them rather than just dreams in my room.

You’ve worked across different areas like architecture, data, and security. Which experience taught you the most about how digital tech can drive sustainability?

I think my most recent role in Tiny Digital Things helped show me this, where my job was to build different automations to save people time and upskill them in how to build their own solutions. On the surface, it has nothing to do with sustainability but when I looked into it, saving someone an hour of work on their laptop is about 10g of carbon, which when scaled up into saving hundreds of hours a week. I felt like I was having a real impact on the world around me and moving towards a greener, more efficient future.

What advice would you give to young people thinking about a career in technology or energy?

I would say do it! Green energy and technology are the future and getting involved one way or another helps make sure that you’re part of something that is directly helping the planet and the people around you. And even if you’re not interested in technology, being technically able is key, as the physical world around us becomes more and more dependent on the digital world, having those technical skills, ranging from everyday ChatGPT familiarity to coding in your bedroom, will enable you to chase the career you want.

What’s been your biggest challenge so far in your career, and how did you overcome it?

I think the biggest challenge I’ve had in my career has been my self-confidence. When I first started at E.ON, I was very nervous and struggled to be able to interact with people. It was only over the course of several years where with colleagues support, I proved to myself that I could achieve goals and it wasn’t wrong to believe in myself. This then gave me the confidence to go out and try things and make a difference and for that I’m grateful for everyone’s support.

Looking ahead, what new digital innovation or project are you most excited about that could help support cleaner energy?

I’m really excited about the rise of Virtual Power Plants (VPP) where we can begin to make use of distributed power sources across the country such as customers solar panels, batteries or even electric cars and with the use of technology utilise them to stabilise the grid. Personally, I find this exciting because it’s a great example of how software can be not just a consumer of energy, but a producer of it as well. Then when combined with the like of Digital Twins, I think we’re really beginning to see the merging of the digital and physical world like never before.

A reflection of E.ON’s commitment to skills and sustainability

Connell’s success story is a testament to E.ON’s long-term investment in early careers, apprenticeships and green skills. The company has supported more than 1,000 apprentices across 90 programmes, helping to create new routes into digital, engineering and sustainability-focused careers.

Connell adds, “I know it’s a bit cheesy but I want to say thank you to everyone at E.ON who over the years has taken time to help and develop me and enable my success. A particular shoutout to the E.ON Early Careers Team, Claire Whitmore and Julie Holmes, who without them I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.”

E.ON’s philosophy is simple: every job is a green job. And with rising stars like Connell leading the way, that future is looking brighter than ever.