In 2025 Energy UK showcased a range of apprentices as they took their first steps into the energy industry. One year on, we caught up with the same people to find out how their apprenticeship has helped to progress their new careers.
A year has passed since you last updated us on your apprenticeship, what you are now doing?
I am currently in the Asset Management & Process safety team at E.ON. We sit in a unit that supports and leads a wide variety of projects supporting operations throughout the business, including our heat networks, B2B and generation business. Each of these business units operate various types of equipment for heating and electricity generation. Our job is to support across all aspects (electrical, mechanical, process etc) with tasks including modifications and maintenance to improve reliability, efficiency and safety. This is done through both on-site support as well as through safety/process investigations.
I have found the support from the business and those who work with me to be great. They have given me the right amount of freedom to join the teams I wanted to, while also supporting me when I have had any challenges, whether it be with my university work or with the job itself.
I have continued to learn so much through projects at work as well as through the university course and being able to apply theoretical knowledge from university to practical outputs in the workplace always feels rewarding.
What has been your main highlight from the past year?
My highlight of the last year was getting to help with some of the commissioning and testing at our Silvertown site, which has the first Ectogrid in the UK, a fifth-generation ambient temperature heating and cooling network. This is a project I have been involved in since I first joined E.ON, having worked on many elements of the scheme with different teams.
From helping make designs to talks with heat pump manufacturers and finally helping with some final testing and commissioning just weeks before heat on, seeing the project from its early design stages to finally being live has been very rewarding.
I have found the support from the business and those who work with me to be great.
What advice would you give to those considering an apprenticeship in energy?
My advice has not changed a lot from last year. Find what you are genuinely interested in and passionate about and see if you can join teams or projects that you are curious about. These will be the most fun and interesting parts of the business for you to get involved in, meaning you will get the most out of your placements.
I would also reiterate the importance of asking questions on anything and everything. The best way to learn is by talking to colleagues and contractors who have more experience than you.
February 2025
What is your apprenticeship?
The Electro-Mechanical Engineering degree apprenticeship at E.ON.
Why did you choose an apprenticeship over uni?
Doing an apprenticeship is great because I get to learn the theoretical side of my degree at university, while also gaining experience and real-world knowledge by working on a large variety of actual projects. The opportunity to learn from industry experts with years of experience is invaluable and brings the theory side to life. Being able to apply both practical and theoretical knowledge to projects is immensely helpful.
What does your day to day look like?
My day to day is very varied and no two days are ever the same. I move between different teams at E.ON, meaning I’m able to work on a variety of different projects throughout the apprenticeship. Some days I’ll be based in the office, where I have the opportunity to contribute my point of view in meetings and put forward my input on projects – whether that’s from the engineering side (making drawings and modelling energy systems), the commercial side (looking at financial models, and comparing different solutions) or reading through contracts/documentation.
On other days I may be visiting a site to ensure assets are performing as expected, or even making modifications to some equipment. I also have a university day each week where I attend lectures and complete coursework like a normal university student would.
Being able to apply both practical and theoretical knowledge to projects is immensely helpful.
What skills have you been developing, and how?
I’ve developed a lot of people skills; notably, I’m dealing with people in all sorts of roles and seniority due to the different projects and teams I’ve been involved in. This has taught me that everyone works in different ways, which helps me be more flexible. By adapting to different ways of working and different communication styles, I’m able to better solve challenges and be an asset to the projects I work on.
What skills are the most important?
I’d say some of the most important skills are to be a good listener and to be open to learning, from anyone and everyone. By listening to people who have vastly more experience than me, I’ve been able to learn more than I would have on my own. I’m always looking to further my understanding and knowledge in all areas of my life, even if it isn’t directly related to my apprenticeship – this all gives me a better understanding of the overarching picture of how the industry works. In turn, I’m confident this will improve my ability to contribute to future projects.
What do you want to do with your career?
I’m still figuring out exactly what I want to do. I would like to stay in the energy industry as it’s constantly evolving – I’ve found it interesting and rewarding. In the future, I may consider a different sector as I am sure the skills and knowledge I have learned will be transferable to a whole host of different industries.
Would you recommend it to your friends?
Yes, I’d definitely recommend an apprenticeship to friends. It gives you the best of both worlds: you get a degree while gaining practical experience, you’re earning as you’re learning… and by the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll have a degree! Many of my friends have said they would have done something similar, had they known about it.
Anything else you’d like to add?
If you’re unsure whether you want to continue full-time education after college, you should consider an apprenticeship. I’ve found it to be the perfect middle ground. You’re still developing yourself further through part-time study while integrating in a company and the workforce. If you find an opportunity within a company or an industry that you’re genuinely interested in, the years will fly by.
Energy UK will continue to shine a light on apprenticeships as one of the most powerful tools for building a skilled, diverse and motivated energy workforce. You can find more examples of successful apprentices via our Jobs In Energy resource, which also demonstrates the benefits of working in the sector, lists apprenticeships offered by Energy UK members, and links to other useful sites where you can find open apprenticeship schemes.
We also publish case study collections demonstrating how apprenticeships are driving the energy transition and ways that Energy UK members are building the workforce for our future energy system. If you have a case study showcasing innovative work within the sector, please get in touch via press@energy-uk.org.uk.
Interested in starting a career in energy?
For the country to reach Net Zero, the energy industry will need all the people it can get – from all kinds of backgrounds, with a diverse range of skills.
A job in energy could mean anything from a nuclear engineering apprenticeship, to working in customer service for a retail energy company, or a role at a tech startup – so you might not know where to start.
The Young Energy Professionals (YEP) Forum has created this guide to help you find the right route into a job in energy.
