Future skills, future tech: developing a workforce ready for the future
Meeting the UK’s net zero target means closing a green skills gap of 200,000 roles. At E.ON’s Net Zero Academy, Richie Atkinson’s team is training the workforce of today to deliver the technologies of tomorrow.
There’s a widening green skills shortage.
And we need around 200,000 skilled green workers if we’re to meet the UK’s clean power targets. That’s an unprecedented amount of workforce required to make our country cleaner and more sustainable – and at scale. From engineers and scientists to operations managers and data specialists, the energy transition needs people in every field — and it needs them fast.
What we build, teach, and learn now will decide whether we’re ready for the technologies that will shape tomorrow’s world.
Building the skills to power change
At E.ON’s Net Zero Academy, that’s exactly the challenge we’re meeting head-on. This isn’t about simply keeping pace — it’s about staying one step ahead. Our training programmes are shaped by what our partners are already asking for, and by the innovations we know are coming.
Our Net Zero Academy is E.ON’s flagship UK training hub, where engineers — both our own colleagues and external technicians — learn to make homes cleaner, greener and more affordable to run. From smart meters, to electric vehicle (EV) chargers, solar panels and battery storage and air source heat pumps, the Academy covers it all.
And it’s not just about E.ON’s needs. We’ve commercialised our training offer, making it a go-to centre for colleges, schools, and corporate clients. Our team delivers everything from technical awareness sessions to specialist programmes for large-scale projects, such as Coventry City Council’s ambitious city-wide decarbonisation efforts.
From smart home technologies and solar thermal systems to advanced energy management for new builds, we’re developing skills that anticipate the future. That could mean preparing apprentices to wire homes for smart energy systems or building new pathways for retrofit installations across the existing British housing stock.
And we’re not just thinking about technology — we’re thinking about people. Every skill learned at our Academy helps ensure no one is left behind in the race to clean power. Our training offering supports candidates from all backgrounds and starting points, ensuring that every candidate, whatever their learning style or neuro diverse requirements, are understood and tailored to.
Partnerships for a greener tomorrow
Our vision is already taking shape through partnerships with colleges, schools, and community initiatives to inspire the next generation of green talent. Training is constantly evolving to meet the demands of cutting-edge technologies — from ground source heat pumps and EV chargers to “concept boilers” - electric boilers with a thermal store and heat plate, designed to charge overnight and reduce strain on the grid.
Our partnership with Dudley College of Technology is a standout example. Together, we’ve built an on-campus net zero solutions hub — a state-of-the-art training facility with hands-on access to the latest green technologies. Not only does the hub reduce the college’s own carbon footprint, but it’s also preparing T-Level students and apprentices to lead the green energy transition.
And we’re just getting started. We’re supporting Coventry City Council’s decarbonisation goals, electrifying heat across communities through training to our district heating teams, and working with our green funding and innovation teams to test and roll out groundbreaking technologies.
The Academy also has a well established relationship with the British Armed Forces Resettlement Service, ensuring that service personnel transitioning away from the armed forces are equipped with skills and knowledge are ready to hit the ground running.
And, despite our heartbeat being located in the West Midlands, we’re on the verge of launching more regionalised satellite centres in Exeter, Essex and Sheffield, allowing additional external learners to benefit from our first class training delivery teams.
Our role in the energy transition is as much about people as it is about technology. Tomorrow’s breakthroughs will only matter if we have the workforce ready to deliver them.