To mark National Apprentice Week (10-16 February), Energy UK is highlighting how its members are providing skilled job opportunities supporting the move to clean energy, without the need for university degrees.
From Plymouth to Perth, Energy UK members are leading the way in developing the next generation of energy professionals, supporting over 1,200 apprentices across the country in 2025.
These apprenticeship schemes span the entire energy transition, covering crucial areas such as low-carbon heating installation, smart metering, grid and transmission infrastructure, and business roles in energy retail focused on digitalisation and customer service enhancement.
Helping illustrate how these placements can lead the way to successful careers in the industry with skilled, well-paid employment, new talent from across our membership are sharing their experiences in a series of case studies.
These show how apprenticeships provide a direct pathway into rewarding Science Technology Engineering and Maths careers, making opportunities in the energy sector more accessible to a broader range of talent - and also highlight how their roles are helping tackle climate change and strengthen energy security.
Juliette Sanders, Chief Communications Officer at Energy UK, said:
“We often talk about the opportunities that the transition to an economy powered by clean energy can provide, and nowhere is this truer than with employment. We will need hundreds of thousands of new workers in a wide range of skilled roles right across the country.
“Apprenticeships play a key role in equipping individuals from all backgrounds with the skills needed to drive the UK’s energy transformation. By investing in people today, Energy UK members are ensuring a resilient, skilled, and diverse workforce ready to deliver the Net Zero economy of tomorrow.”
As the UK strives to meet its ambitious Net Zero targets, the energy sector faces a growing demand for skilled professionals. Research from Energy & Utility Skills estimates that the power sector alone will need to recruit 156,900 new workers by 2030 to deliver the country’s clean power ambitions – equivalent to 22,400 new recruits a year. More than half of these new roles will only require qualifications at RQF level 3 or below, highlighting the vital role of apprenticeships in closing the skills gap and ensuring a just transition.
| Company | Apprenticeships offered in 2025 |
| EDF | 65 |
| National Grid | 306 |
| NESO | 20 |
| Centrica | >400 |
| Drax Group | 12 |
| Octopus | 100 |
| RWE | 75 |
| Scottish Power | 130 |
| SSE | 145 |
Notes to editors
- Energy UK is the trade association for the energy industry with over 100 members – from established FTSE 100 companies right through to new, growing suppliers, generators and service providers across energy, transport, heat and technology. Our members deliver to nearly 80% of the UK’s power generation and over 95% of the energy supply for 28 million UK homes as well as businesses. The sector invests £13bn annually and delivers nearly £30bn in gross value – on top of the nearly £100bn in economic activity through its supply chain and interaction with other sectors. The energy industry is key to delivering growth and plans to invest £100bn over the course of this decade in new energy sources. The energy sector supports 700,000 jobs in every corner of the country. Energy UK plays a key role in ensuring we attract and retain a diverse workforce. In addition to our Young Energy Professionals Forum, which has over 2,000 members representing over 350 organisations, we are a founding member of TIDE, an industry-wide taskforce to tackle Inclusion and Diversity across energy.