Shaping future engineers at our Net Zero Training Academy
Kingswinford, in the heart of England, plays host to E.ON’s new sustainable training academy. Here, we’re upskilling our colleagues in cleaner, greener energy solutions.
Our new green training academy
Kingswinford, just 4 miles west of Dudley, and 15 miles from Birmingham, is home to our new net zero training academy. It’s here where we’re training engineers from across the country to make sure the energy in our homes can be cleaner, greener and more affordable for customers.
Although E.ON has had a base here for decades, it’s only been used as a training facility since 2017. But since then, we’ve trained more than a thousand technicians and engineers on installing the foundation of a smarter, cleaner energy system: smart meters. Fast forward to present day and the site has now been developed into our net zero solutions hub; a place to train in the necessary skills for the greener energy solutions that will be the future of more affordable and more sustainable energy in our homes and businesses.
Training in green skills
At Kingswinford, we’re already training the next generation of Britain’s green collar workforce in the skills they need to install everything from smart meters, to electric vehicle (EV) chargers, solar panels and battery storage and air source heat pumps. The new training centre is expected to see around 800 colleagues through its doors each year as the country gears up to deliver new ways of powering and heating our buildings.
Switching away from fossil fuels to lower carbon heating systems such as heat pumps is critical to reducing our impact on the planet. Most homes in the UK use gas boilers for heating, which is responsible for about 16% of total greenhouse gas emissions1.
Phil Gilbert, Net Zero Delivery Director:
"We all need energy – at home, in business, in every part of our lives – and demand for energy is only growing. At the same time, we need to make sure energy comes from cleaner sources, so we aren’t damaging our planet and polluting the air in our streets.
“We’ve already seen more than a thousand colleagues come through our doors over the last few years, mainly focused on training in smart metering. We’ve already installed more than five million smart meters so we know we can deliver low carbon solutions at scale, supporting our customers in generating their own clean energy.
"The ambitious targets set by the government means a huge amount of work for us and our colleagues, but it will help drive new jobs and green skills around the country, and ultimately help our customers on their net zero journey.”
Striving for a sustainable future
Reducing emissions from heating will mean huge change and the UK government has an ambition to install 600,000 heat pumps each year by 20282. This is obviously a huge task and will take a concerted national effort to get to this number, especially as only 72,000 new pumps were installed in total in 20223.
At E.ON we want to drive change, which is why we’re building a workforce equipped with the skills needed to scale-up the installation of heat pumps. This is what we call the energy transition, helping customers at home, in businesses or across whole communities – and developing the people and the skills to deliver those new technologies. Most people who arrive at Kingswinford come with previous experience and expertise, whether that is in metering, electrical installations, or gas.
Sean Holgate, Technical Training and Development Lead at Kingswinford, has seen a swathe of people from various backgrounds and expertise levels come through the academy over the years, from ambitious newcomers early on in their careers at E.ON, to long-standing colleagues who have been an integral part of our organisation for years - all eager to embrace the ever-evolving landscape of green technology.
He said: “As the industry moves toward a sustainable future, our academy has developed a comprehensive curriculum that covers the latest advancements in renewable energy. It’s our mission to not only develop expertise in sustainable solutions but also to foster a sense of purpose and responsibility towards creating a cleaner, greener future for generations to come. I’m excited to see our colleagues develop their skills in these greener technologies, driving positive change and helping us to reach the UK’s net zero goals.”
Our learning approach
The academy operates as a multi-platform facility, with face-to-face, remote, physical and digital learning approaches. Technicians from across the UK travel to the site to learn the vital skills they need. The length of training depends on the technology – for example, heat pump training lasts for a minimum of six weeks, with classroom sessions and practical hands-on experience, while solar training includes an intensive 20-week level 3 electrical installation course before finishing with a one-week solar-specific course.
Our new academy has put Kingswinford firmly on the map and demonstrates our commitment to learning, developing, and strengthening the skills we need to pave the way to net zero. E.ON doesn’t just help people make their homes more climate friendly – we offer sustainable solutions for businesses and cities to help combat climate change.