Powering progress in Liverpool

Our partnership with Peel Ports Group is already delivering impactful results, including the installation of the UK’s largest roof-mounted solar energy system at the Port of Liverpool.

The scale and ambition of the project have sparked interest beyond the energy sector. Just a mile from the port, Hugh Baird College has taken inspiration from the partnership and aligned its curriculum to support the energy transition and promote green careers. Offering courses in building, construction, plumbing, and gas and electrical installation, the college has also launched Sefton’s first-ever Green Skills Day – bringing sustainability to the forefront of education and workforce development in the region.

Here are a few of the ways in which we’ve worked with the college over the past year to help bring sustainability and green careers to life for students:

Careers Event

Last year, we held a Careers Event where four E.ON colleagues ran a workshop for over 150 students aged 16-18 at Hugh Baird College. The workshops aimed to support the college's adoption of low-carbon solutions and renewable energy by showcasing sustainable solutions such as solar panels, heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging.

Students gained hands-on experience with smart meters and electric vehicle chargers, understanding how these technologies work and supporting their learning. They also engaged with our volunteers on topics related to green skills, environmental issues, and job opportunities at E.ON.

The impact of the Careers Event was measured through a survey, revealing significant improvements in students' knowledge of and interest in green skills:

• Knowledge about renewable energy and its importance increased from 60% to 75%
• Familiarity with E.ON and our commitment to green skills and jobs rose from 40% to 73%
• Interest in working in a green job in the future grew from 66% to 77%

Green Skills Day

Following on from the success of the Careers Event, in March – during National Careers Week – E.ON volunteers held two further workshops for a Green Skills Day, meeting nearly 100 students.

The workshops were designed in collaboration with Hugh Baird College to introduce green skills and technical jobs at E.ON, as well as educating students about the most sought after soft skills and attributes needed for a successful career. There were a mix of activities at the event including scenario-based exercises, quizzes, and interactive sessions to build soft skills such as note-taking and public speaking.

Emma Griffiths, Curriculum Manager at Hugh Baird College, expressed her gratitude for the support provided by E.ON: “Just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to you and the team for all your support in making the Green Skills Day a success! Your passion, enthusiasm, time and effort into planning such informative and interactive sessions was extremely beneficial in raising awareness and inspiring our learners, whilst enhancing their skills, knowledge and behaviours for industry.”

Visit to the Peel Ports Site

In April, E.ON welcomed 17 staff and students from Hugh Baird College to the Peel Ports site at Liverpool Docks.

Peel Ports Group is the UK’s second-largest port operator and, together, we’ve installed the UK’s largest’ roof-mounted solar project – consisting of 63,000 solar panels which will save 6,500 tonnes of CO2e a year – that’s the equivalent of more than 2,250 cars taken off the roads.

Alongside this, a future project to repower the existing wind turbines on the banks of the River Mersey with fewer, larger turbines could generate a further 20MW of renewable electricity, once repowered.

E.ON staff showed the visitors the solar install, inverters, HV transformers, and wind turbines, providing insights into renewables, green skills, and careers. The site team explained the design and installation of the systems, the supply chain, and personal experiences of working in the field.

Lewis McIntyre, Managing Director of Port Services at Peel Ports Group, said: “It’s fantastic to open up the Port of Liverpool to students and show them first-hand the scale of our renewable energy projects. Working with E.ON, we’re not only cutting carbon with initiatives like the UK’s largest rooftop solar installation but also helping to inspire future careers in the green economy.”

Continuing professional and curriculum development

Most recently, in July our Net Zero Academy team was invited to a staff Continuing Professional Development Day. During the session, they informed academic staff about the skills and qualifications sought by E.ON as an employer. This conversation will inform the next academic year, maximizing students' chances of securing a green skills career.

Amy Holbrook, E.ON’s Social Value Manager for Liverpool, said: “What’s so great about our work with the students from Hugh Baird College is the sheer enthusiasm and thirst for learning about what a green career in an organisation like E.ON could look like. Not only can students witness first-hand the scale of what’s possible through the Peel Ports project, but through our interactive workshops, the students can get really stuck into understanding just how varied, fascinating and rewarding a green career can be.”

Our partnerships with Peel Ports Group and Hugh Baird College exemplify our ongoing commitment to sustainability and to delivering direct social value into the communities we serve.

Through collaboration, innovation and a shared commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable and inclusive energy future, we’re proud to be nurturing the next generation of green skills professionals, ensuring a brighter, greener future for Liverpool and beyond.