The UK is on a mission to improve its renewable energy sector, which is where apprenticeship providers can help, as they can train students to work in the industry and enable it to expand. 

New Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already claimed the Labour Party wants to “make Britain a clean energy superpower”, so the UK can achieve energy independence, clean up the waterways, reduce bills and fuel poverty, and create 650,000 new jobs. 

The party is also intent on reaching Britain’s net-zero emissions goal by 2030, and aims to double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind by this deadline. It will also spend money on carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen and marine energy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. 

It is, therefore, essential to train and educate young people so there is a skilled workforce in the green energy sector in the future.

In fact, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) revealed Britain needs an extra 400,000 employees in the industry if the UK is to meet its net zero goal. 

One way to boost numbers is through graduate apprenticeships (GAs), which qualify students to degree level, while they are also working in the field and gaining first-hand experience.

GAs also appeal to young people, as they enable them to earn a living while studying and they can avoid steep tuition fees, which are £9,250 per year for undergraduates in England. This is in addition to average rental costs of £7,475 per year, though many areas are more expensive than this. 

Being able to avoid having a huge amount of debt when completing a degree is becoming increasingly appealing to teenagers these days, thanks to the cost-of-living crisis. Therefore, if the government wants to boost employment in the green energy industry, it could start by offering more GAs in this area.