Bringing Low-Carbon Apprenticeships to Life

This year’s National Apprentice Week theme – Build the Future – resonates strongly with MCS.

We are working closely with our renewables industry to define what skills and training pathways the sector needs to thrive and deliver our all-important net zero carbon goals.

This year we are supporting the launch of the UK’s first low-carbon heating technician apprenticeship. It is being designed in close collaboration with installers who do the work, reflecting real-world challenges that the industry face.

Since 2008, MCS has set the Standards that allow for the certification of domestic renewable energy products and installers. In turn, this gives consumers confidence in the low-carbon technology they invest in. 

We are collaborating with industry to bring to life that UK’s very first Low Carbon Energy Apprenticeship

From solar and wind, to heat pumps, biomass and battery storage, MCS aims to inspire a new generation of home-grown energy, fit for the needs of every UK home and community. With the future of energy moving away from fossil fuels and into the hands of low-carbon power and heating installers, the UK needs more skilled professionals than ever to take up the growing demand for renewables.

The number of job vacancies in October to December 2021 rose to a new record of 1,247,000, an increase of 462,000 from the pre-coronavirus level in January to March 2020. Plus coupled with the fact that the numbers of qualified electricians and heating engineers nearing retirement has more than doubled in the last 10 years, the skills shortage is only going to worsen. 

Therefore, apprenticeships have a key role to play in filling the skills gap – whether young people embarking on careers or people looking to retrain. 

The Government recognises that the transition to net-zero will be one of the dominant labour market trends of the next 30 years. This further exacerbates the need for young people to begin training in renewables installation skills, from heat pump design to solar PV installation.

Training on the job

One installer we work closely with is Paul Leedham, managing director of Matrix Energy Systems. Paul founded his MCS certified business in 2009 and is a passionate advocate for training new talent. He has written nationally recognised training courses on heat pump installation and fully embraced apprenticeships at the heart of his operations.

Apprenticeships have a key role to play in filling the skills gap

MCS recently visited Matrix at RSPB Saltholme, where the team is installing an air-source heat pump. The team is a fantastic example of apprenticeships adding real value to a business. Out of the three team members on-site, one was an apprentice and two had completed apprenticeships with Matrix, gaining the real-world experience and skills to be promoted into senior roles within the business.

All three of them told us first-hand that apprenticeships were the best way to learn the practical skills necessary to be successful installers.

This reflects exactly what we believe at MCS. However, we recognise that demand for a dedicated apprenticeship programme for low-carbon heating is long overdue.

That’s why we are collaborating with industry to bring to life that UK’s very first Low Carbon Energy Apprenticeship. Our aim is to help to close the skill gap and equip our growing sector with the talent needed to help the UK reach net-zero by 2050.

We will be launching the apprenticeship in 2022 and will keep all our stakeholders well updated as we do so.

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