‘How Apprenticeships help build long-term engineering careers’ by E.ON colleague, Adam

One of those people is Adam Wigglesworth, Lead Control & Instrumentation (C&I) Engineer at E.ON, whose career journey highlights the long-term value of apprenticeships in engineering.

Adam has been with E.ON for nearly two years, but his career in control systems engineering spans more than two decades. His journey began with an apprenticeship in Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) engineering in the chemical industry—at a time when the apprenticeship landscape looked very different to today.

“When I did my apprenticeship around 20 years ago, there weren’t the same options we have now,” Adam explains. “I wanted to be an electrician at the time (If I’m honest, because that’s where the money was!) but that led me into E&I engineering, which opened far more doors than I could ever have imagined.”

Those doors took Adam around the world. His career has seen him commissioning, configuring and maintaining industrial control and safety systems for major organisations across China, South Africa, Angola and offshore oil and gas platforms, as well as high-hazard chemical manufacturing sites closer to home in the UK.

Today, Adam brings that global experience to E.ON. As Lead C&I Engineer, his role focuses on the systems that sit behind the scenes of the energy sector—making sure complex processes work reliably, safely and efficiently. 

“A Control Systems Engineer does all the work in the background so that when those buttons are pressed, the right actions happen and the process is automated safely.”

Adam’s work spans the entire E.ON UK portfolio, including biomass boiler commissioning, upgrading ageing control systems, safety system testing, and emissions monitoring upgrades. Each project plays a role in supporting E.ON’s commitment to sustainability and the journey to net zero.

“Having spent most of my career in energy-intensive industries, I’ve seen first-hand how important it is to develop technologies that reduce energy use while keeping operations safe,” he explains. “Everything we do prioritises safety first and ensures our systems are fit for the future.”

For apprentices considering a career in control systems engineering, Adam highlights mindset as much as technical ability.

“Eagerness to learn is key,” he says. “There’s always more than one way to do something, so adaptability is a huge advantage in engineering.”

Reflecting on his proudest moments, Adam says there’s nothing quite like seeing a project come to life. “Bringing a new piece of equipment online after designing and commissioning it always stands out,” he says. “And I’ll forever point out places I’ve worked when driving past with my family.”

If he could offer one piece of advice to his younger self—and to apprentices starting out today—it would be simple: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Everyone approaches problems differently, and most of the time you’ll reach the same solution. Learn from feedback, don’t take rejection personally, and keep improving.”

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Adam’s story is a reminder that apprenticeships don’t just start careers, they build them for the long term.

If you’re interested in an apprenticeship or combining university study with real engineering experience, our apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships offer the opportunity to work on live projects, develop in-demand skills and play a role in the UK’s net zero journey.

Find out more and apply today and help us build the future energy workforce.