Talk about the future of energy and most people picture wind turbines, solar panels or electric vehicles. What they don’t always picture are the people behind them.
The engineers.
The technicians.
The apprentices.
Across the UK, investment in energy infrastructure and low-carbon technologies is creating demand for highly skilled workers. New analysis, published in June by CBI Economics (Confederation of British Industry) suggests the UK’s net-zero economy is now worth more than £100 billion annually and supports over a million jobs. Net zero workers enjoy higher wages, topping £43,000 a year on average, about 11% higher than the national average of £39,000.
For young people considering their next step, that should be an exciting prospect.
And for those training with TTE, it is a reminder that they are developing the skills employers increasingly need.
Few places are better positioned to benefit from this growth than Cheshire and the wider North West. The region is already home to a remarkable concentration of advanced industry, cutting-edge science and global businesses. From energy generation and grid infrastructure to chemicals, advanced manufacturing, hydrogen technologies and nuclear expertise, Cheshire has built a reputation as one of the UK’s most important industrial centres.
At the heart of that success is the Cheshire Science Corridor, bringing together world-class science, engineering, manufacturing and energy businesses. It is a place where new technologies are developed, tested and taken into industry, creating high-value jobs and attracting investment from around the world.
The important point is that these industries are not future ambitions. They exist today. They employ thousands of people, invest billions in infrastructure and rely on a workforce with strong technical skills.
As technology evolves and the journey towards net zero continues, the demand for those skills is expected to grow.
That is where apprenticeships come in.
The transition to a lower-carbon economy is not simply about new technology. It is about the people who can design, build, operate and maintain that technology. Every new energy project requires electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, process operators, maintenance technicians, instrumentation specialists and skilled craft professionals.
In other words, the transition to net zero is not just creating new technologies. It is creating career opportunities.
For many years, young people were often told that success meant sitting behind a desk in a city office. Today’s economy is telling a different story. Some of the most exciting opportunities are emerging in industries that build, power and transform the world around us.
The best part is that these careers combine innovation with long-term security. They are highly skilled, highly valued and increasingly central to Britain’s economic future.
At TTE, apprentices are already developing the knowledge, practical experience and professional behaviours that employers across the energy and engineering sectors are looking for. Whether they go on to work in advanced manufacturing, energy generation, hydrogen projects, process industries or emerging low-carbon technologies, they will be entering sectors that are investing heavily in people and skills.
The future will need more energy, more technology and more innovation. But none of it happens without people.
That’s why engineering remains one of the most exciting career choices a young person can make.
The future isn’t just being imagined. It’s being designed, built and maintained by skilled people.
And many of them will start their journey as apprentices.