World Youth Skills Day and investing in green skills for a better tomorrow

As the target to transition towards a cleaner, more sustainable future, grows, the need for skilled people has never been greater. This World Youth Skills Day, we're celebrating the role young people can play in shaping the UK's energy future and the opportunities available to develop the skills needed to make it happen.

From engineers and data specialists to project managers, customer experts and sustainability professionals, the energy transition depends on a workforce equipped with the right skills to deliver meaningful change.

We're committed to supporting young people at every stage of their career journey. Through our apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship programmes, we offer opportunities to earn while learning, combining practical, on-the-job experience with nationally recognised qualifications to help build rewarding careers in the energy sector.

Our dedication to developing future talent has recently been recognised nationally. E.ON has been named one of the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026, ranking 75th in the UK. Compiled by the Department for Education and HIGHERiN, the rankings recognise employers delivering outstanding apprenticeship opportunities and experiences.

Helen Bradbury, Chief People Officer at E.ON UK, said: "To be recognised as one of the Top 100 apprenticeship employers in the UK is something we're incredibly proud of. It reflects the quality of our apprenticeships and, mentors, as well as our long-term commitment to investing in future talent.

Apprenticeships are helping to equip people with the skills needed for the energy transition while opening up rewarding careers for people from all backgrounds. That's vital if we're to build the skilled workforce needed to deliver a cleaner, greener future."

Interest in E.ON's apprenticeship programmes has grown significantly. Applications increased from 270 in 2023 to just over 2,000 in 2024. While most applicants continue to be school and college leavers, E.ON is seeing increasing interest from graduates, particularly for its Level 7 Accountancy and Taxation programme, reflecting the growing appeal of apprenticeships as a route to professional qualifications and career progression.

E.ON's Early Careers team has also reported significantly higher awareness and engagement around degree apprenticeships during school visits and careers events, demonstrating growing recognition of apprenticeships as a high-quality career pathway.

Alongside these programmes, our New Energy Academy provides free, curriculum-linked educational resources that bring real-world energy and sustainability challenges into classrooms. Developed in partnership with teachers, it helps young people build the knowledge, confidence and skills they'll need to thrive in the UK's growing green economy.

Building green skills through collaboration

Equipping young people with the skills needed for the future cannot be achieved by employers alone. Strong partnerships between businesses, schools, colleges, universities and parents are essential to ensuring young people understand the full range of career pathways available.

Collaboration sits at the heart of our approach. Through initiatives like the New Energy Academy, partnerships with education providers and our apprenticeship programmes, we're helping bridge the gap between education and employment. By bringing real-world industry experiences into schools and providing accessible pathways into meaningful careers, we're helping young people develop the technical skills, confidence and sustainability mindset needed to thrive in the new energy world.

Our commitment to green skills extends beyond apprenticeships. Through the Net Zero Training Academy, E.ON supports around 800 people every year in developing the skills needed for the energy transition. Since 2018, we've also welcomed more than 1,000 apprentices across around 100 apprenticeship programmes, helping build the workforce that will deliver the UK's net zero ambitions.

Developing green skills isn't simply about preparing for the jobs of tomorrow; it's about creating opportunities today. Apprenticeships provide an accessible route into rewarding careers, while early engagement through education helps young people understand the breadth of opportunities available in the growing green economy.

This World Youth Skills Day, we're proud of the apprentices, graduates, educators, mentors and colleagues helping inspire and develop the next generation. Whether through classroom learning, hands-on workplace experience or industry-leading training programmes, investing in young people's skills today is helping create the workforce that will deliver a cleaner, greener tomorrow.