PHAM NEWS | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2026 Training & Education 29


Why more learners are thinking Smart


Smart Energy – a Derbyshire-based plumbing and heating training provider – has seen a growing number of installers and apprentices enrol on its courses as its reputation grows for the provision of quality training and mentoring. PHAM News recently visited the company’s Ashbourne facility to hear more about its plans for further expansion.


M


uch has been said about the need for the industry to attract


new blood and for existing professionals to learn new skills as the country looks to make the transition to low-carbon heating solutions. However, with change comes opportunity and there’s one training provider that is determined to play its part in delivering a growing number of trained and qualified individuals who are willing and able to help bridge any skills gap. Smart Energy Training


changed its name from Smart Gas Training in October this year in recognition of the increasing focus on more sustainable energy sources, but the name change is just one way that the training provider is looking to scale up its ambitions. Its well- equipped facility in Ashbourne, which first opened in 2016, has been expanded following


significant investment this year, while a new centre in Leicestershire is set to open in January and a third facility is already being planned for later in the year. The new centres will look


to replicate the success of the Ashbourne facility which has undergone major improvements since the company became part of the Realise Training Group in March this year. As well as increasing the number of classrooms from three to five and the creation of a new dedicated space for specialist air source heat pump training, there is also a new reception area and a breakout room for learners, helping to provide a more inviting learning environment. “By reworking the space,


we have been able to create two additional training rooms which are modern and clean,” says centre manager Adam Kolaszynski. “The new breakout room is also much nicer than


its predecessor, featuring new furniture, a kitchen area and charging power banks. “It’s about creating a


welcoming space that promotes learning and skill enhancement, while the green energy training space will allow us to teach the latest technologies.”


On the right course Smart Energy currently offers air source heat pump, gas, plumbing and heating training, from apprenticeships for complete novices interested in starting out in the industry, to NVQs for existing engineers seeking to boost earning potential by branching out into renewable energy. There is also the opportunity


to learn on ‘skills bootcamps’, which provide the opportunity to gain practical training without having to make any long-term commitment. For anyone thinking about a career change or wanting to see if the industry is right for them, the skills bootcamps offer the flexibility to work around existing life commitments and provide a mix of in-person and online learning. Since becoming an approved


apprenticeship training centre in 2020, nearly 300 apprentices have been able to take advantage of Smart Energy’s ongoing investment in both equipment and people. A key part of the success of the apprenticeship scheme has been the establishment of good relationships with local employers, many of which have themselves benefited from signing up to courses in Ashbourne. “It’s in everyone’s interests


to get the right apprentice with the right employer – it’s almost like a match-making service,” explains Mark Cooper, chief revenue officer of Realise Training Group. As part of the Realise Group,


Smart Energy is clearly a business that needs to justify any investments made, but there is also a belief that the focus on people, relationships and quality


will deliver the right results. “There are lots of


apprenticeship providers that just want to put bums on seats, but if we put the right learner on the right programme, then they will have a brilliant experience and then the money will take care of itself,” says Mark.


Soft skills For the apprenticeships at Smart Energy, there is also an emphasis on learning ‘softer skills’, so that they have an understanding of how to behave in someone’s home. “There might be an element


of generalisation, but I think 19-year-olds tend to be more sheltered these days, so they may need a bit more help with life skills, such as how to communicate with a customer,” Mark explains. “We don’t technically have to do it as part of an apprenticeship, but we view it as something we should do to prepare someone for work.” The apprentices, who


generally come from Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Cheshire, as well as the local area, appear to agree that Smart Energy offers a more attractive learning environment than some of the local colleges – something reflected by the number of positive reviews and high retention rates. “I think we’re definitely


more dynamic than most colleges,” says Mark. “We can


invest in new equipment much more quickly, for example. Colleges also tend to have much bigger class sizes, whereas we tend to restrict our numbers to groups of 8 or 12 trainees. There’s therefore much more opportunity for hands-on tuition.”


Looking forward The long-term future of the Realise Training Group has been assured by its recent acquisition by AQA, a not-for-profit education charity that is also the UK’s largest exam board for GCSEs and A-levels. Previously owned by a private equity firm, the change in ownership is likely to see future profits being invested in vocational training and the realisation of Smart Energy’s plans to replicate its success on a national level. One thing that won’t change, though, is the focus on what the business is all about – people. “We’ve created a culture


where people are at the heart of it,” says Mark Cooper. “Our trainers are the most important people and the recruitment of trainers is probably the most important thing we do. Our learners often build amazing relationships with our trainers, so it’s so important to ensure we have the right calibre of people – those with real-life, ‘on the tools’ experience who want the opportunity to be a part of our growing team.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/126/28


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