As we approach the end of National Apprenticeship Week we recognise the importance of apprenticeships in delivering a safe, reliable and net zero-ready energy, clean water and resilient waste services across all four nations. Recent government announcements, from new funding to assessment reform, strengthen that pipeline and expand opportunities for young people.
With a national focus with new investment and flexibility, with government setting out plans to create 50,000 more apprenticeships within three years, backed by £725m, the message is landing. Greater flexibility through the introduction of the Growth and Skills Levy will enable more agile and targeted training provision, supporting both reskilling and upskilling through a demand‑led system. At the same time, apprenticeship assessment is being simplified and made more proportionate, with phased streamlining to allow sampling. Positive to hear that any sampling will be applied on a case‑by‑case basis to ensure rigour is maintained throughout the assessment process where safety critical roles exist. Energy & Utility Skills continues to work proactively with Skills England, to ensure that robust assessment criteria remain in place for such roles.
With continued evolution of the skills system, it’s worth noting that it’s been 10 years since the introduction of Apprenticeships Standards because of the reforms from the Richard Review, with Energy & Environment Awards (formerly EUIAS) delivering England’s first ever End-point Assessment. This milestone marked a turning point in England’s apprenticeship system, demonstrating how employer‑designed apprenticeship standards would strengthen national capability in critical infrastructure and set a new benchmark for quality and trust in apprenticeship outcomes.
In 2016, 16 apprentices at UK Power Networks became the very first to complete the employer-designed Power Network Craftsperson apprenticeship. These apprentices trained as electricity cable jointers, supporting the electricity network’s resilience and the early roll-out of smart electricity systems across the UK.
At the time, Basil Scarsella, Chief Executive Officer of UK Power Networks, said:
“I’m delighted our apprentices’ hard work has paid off. Their success really demonstrates the business case for offering apprenticeships. This new standard and the successful completion by 15 of our team will enable our business to progress with a more qualified, highly trained and efficient workforce. I am extremely proud of their achievements.”
Rachel Thomas, Managing Director of Energy & Environment Awards states:
“Ten years after we delivered England’s first end-point assessment of the new apprenticeship standards, we can see the real legacy in the apprentices who are now keeping our electricity networks and people safe. As the specialist awarding organisation for the energy and utilities sector, Energy & Environment Awards is proud to deliver assessments that turn training into recognised competence.”
For the energy and utilities sector, apprenticeships are not an adjunct, they are how we build the capability and confidence to meet public expectations and national missions, from modernising grids to improving water resilience and delivering a circular economy.
The government’s clean energy jobs plan expects the workforce to double by 2030 with apprenticeships a principal route into roles that keep the system reliable while it decarbonises. Across water catchment, network and process skills are evolving fast; new nature-based roles sit alongside advanced digital and electrical pathways, widening access while maintaining safety and quality. Finally, in waste & recycling, apprenticeships translate circular-economy ambition into day-to-day operational excellence.
Evolving standards that support a changing sector
Since those first assessments, the original Power Network Craftsperson apprenticeship has evolved into three specialised apprenticeships, each funded at the maximum £27,000 band:
- Power Industry Substation Fitter Level 3
- Power Industry Overhead Linesperson Level 3
- Power Industry Distribution Cable Jointer Level 3
Energy & Environment Awards: Driving Excellence Through End-Point Assessments and Qualifications
Over the last decade, Energy & Environment Awards has continued to expand its EPA portfolio, supporting employers across England with high-quality, consistent, and industry-recognised assessment services. Examples of End-point Assessments created for the sector include:
- Electrical Power Networks Engineer Level 4
- Gas Network Operative Level 2
- Water Network Operative Level 2
- Engineering Operative Level 2
These assessments play an essential role in building the UK’s skilled workforce for net zero and the renewable energy transition, aligning directly with the priorities set out in the Energy & Utility Skills Strategy 2025–2030.
While apprenticeship reforms differ across the four nations, our National Occupational Standards and occupational mapping work continues to connect Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England through a common, employer‑led framework that strengthens safety, consistency and professional progression across the whole sector.
This 10‑year milestone demonstrates how robust, employer‑designed standards continue to support the UK’s transition to net zero and strengthen national infrastructure resilience.
As part of the Energy & Utility Skills Group, the Energy & Environment Awards organisation brings together safety critical and technical EPAs, qualifications and industry-recognised skills programmes to strengthen sector capability and ensure safe, reliable services for millions of people across the UK.
