• • • TRAINING • • •
there are over 200,000 plumbers in the UK and over half of them are aged 55 or older. We’re addressing the skills gap not just for the present, but for the future as well. By training both the current generation and the younger one, we’re helping to bridge that gap and prepare for the challenges ahead.”
“It is a force for good, guiding people just out of college and putting them onto this path of becoming qualified renewable energy installers, who are skilled not only in solar energy and storage systems but also in heat pumps.”
Casey: Something very important globally right now is the work we are doing to move away from fossil fuels and further towards net zero. Could you elaborate bit about what Segen are doing to support this transition? “The key to this transition is having a qualified workforce in place. We can have as many ambitions as we want as a country, but if we don’t have skilled professionals to install renewable technologies, we won’t be able to achieve them. For example, to increase electric vehicle adoption and reduce CO2 emissions, we need technicians who can install charging points. This not only helps improve the infrastructure but also builds customer confidence, which is essential for widespread EV adoption. These installations play a crucial role in supporting our generation grid and driving the progress needed for a sustainable future.
practical, hands-on learning zone. In the practical zone, we have seven different bays, each 2.5 metres wide, with each bay mocked up to replicate a miniature home. “The idea is that you have the power supply coming in from the fictitious grid to power it, so what the installers get is an experience. This is the key word that we are always trying to hammer home here—experience. In our training facility, they get to see a full home setup replicated in each booth. Unlike many training facilities, where you might only find an inverter and a random cable, having a fully replicated system really adds value. It benefits trainees by preparing them for what they’ll encounter on their first few installations. When they leave our academy, they’re not walking into the unknown—they’re ready.” “Our offering is very diverse, with a wide range of courses including dedicated solar PV training, EV charging courses and combined courses for solar and storage. We are really focused on capturing newcomers to the industry. We want to be able to take in electricians, take in plumbers, put them in a room, and have them walk out five days later as fully certified, qualified renewable energy installers. The installer of tomorrow needs to have a multifaceted set of skills at their disposal to be able to tackle climate change; that’s our ambition. “When the topic of skills shortages is discussed, we often hear alarming statistics, like the fact that
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“Likewise, we need installations that are going into people’s homes, be it solar battery storage or EV chargers, to be of the very highest quality. The experiences customers have are reported by the media, and what comes along with that is a change in the public’s perception. High-quality installations start with comprehensive, high-quality training. By building a strong foundation at the grassroots level with a qualified workforce, we can ensure all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. That’s the core purpose of our training academy.” “One of the aspects that sets us apart is the mock roof we’ve built for training. We have a lot of installers that come from an electrical or plumbing background, but relatively few have roofing experience. This multifaceted approach is key to our success. We want to give trainees more than just classroom learning. Having the mock roof section helps them to gain the confidence to work safely on roofs—learning how to cut tiles and avoid damage—rather than learning it on the roof of a customer’s house.
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We are not there to see anyone fail; we are there to improve the industry
“As a nation, we need to make sure we are moving ahead in the right direction and doing it with the right set of skills. “We are aiming to train around 1,600 installers annually. This is made possible by our strong partnerships with the top suppliers in the industry. This means we are able to expose our trainees to top-quality solar panels, and the highest- performing inverters and batteries. By showing them what excellence looks like, we ensure that when they enter the workforce as qualified
installers, they carry the experience and confidence needed to succeed. This not only benefits their careers but also plays a vital role in shaping the future of the industry.”
Casey: This would be beneficial to those who learn in more physical, hands-on, practical ways as opposed to through theory. But what about those who benefit more through learning theoretically? “We look out for how we should train students, and what’s the best way for them to learn. Of course, everyone is different, so there is large emphasis on classroom training as well. Our goal isn’t to see anyone fail; we’re committed to improving the industry. We want to do everything we can to accommodate all students and ensure their success.”
Casey: What is your opinion on the skills gap and what do you think is causing it? How can Segen help with this? “The industry is somewhat fragmented, in the sense that you leave college and become an electrician and you stay in that job. It’s the same for plumbers and gas engineers. It’s easy to stick with what you know, and there can be a real reluctance to move out of that comfort zone. Another challenge we face is the persistence of old practices. It is easy to walk into a home and replace a broken boiler with a new boiler, even if it’s oversized, like a 25-kilowatt unit, which is far too big for a typical home. This mindset, combined with a segmented market, creates a significant hurdle.
How we combat that is through education, which is exactly what Segen is doing. By giving people the right skills, and demonstrating what excellence looks like from both a legislative and practical standpoint, we are helping them understand what the future holds. By offering the skills and knowledge necessary to adapt, we’re helping close the skills gap and drive progress in the industry.
“On top of the accredited courses we offer, we also provide non-accredited training. This includes sales training for installers. They need to be comfortable not only working on roofs but also engaging with homeowners and effectively communicating the benefits of having solar power installed at their property.” “Another area we are focussing on is heat pumps. Millions of homes across the UK still rely on combi boilers, or even older oil burning systems, for providing fossil fuel based domestic heating. The challenge now is how we transition those homes away from fossil fuel sources to cleaner, renewable alternatives. The mindset we are trying to get across to homeowners is that heat pumps have reached a level of technology where they can effectively replace traditional boilers. “Whether you are an established renewables installer or new to the industry, we are offering the training free to Segen customers. You will pay the course fee up front, but it will be rebated back to you over your next four or five orders. The idea is that you get a credit against your account for doing business with us after we have trained you.”
To find out more visit Segen at:
https://www.segen.co.uk/info/
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • MARCH 2025 41
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