South & City College Birmingham (SCCB) is set to become the first college in the UK to offer a pioneering Heat Network Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship, with the first students starting in April 2025. This initiative aims to equip young individuals with the necessary skills to thrive in the district heating sector, thereby fostering the growth of green jobs in the West Midlands.
District heating is a system that supplies heat to a community through a network of pipes that carry hot water. It’s also known as a heat network. It can be more energy-efficient and cost-effective than individual boilers or electric heaters. There are already over 17,000 heat networks in place in the UK, and nearly half a million connections to them, most of which are domestic customers.
The independent Climate Change Committee projects that by 2050, 18% of the UK’s heat demand will need to be supplied by heat networks. This transition is anticipated to require over £100 billion in private investment and could create approximately 290,000 new jobs nationwide. Birmingham is among the cities identified by the government as having potential ‘heat network zones’, where this technology can deliver low-carbon heat cost-effectively.
The three-year apprenticeship, equivalent to an NVQ, was developed by an industry-led Trailblazer Group chaired by Toby Powell, Operations Director at Hemiko—a leading heat network investor and operator. The programme aims to attract new talent into the rapidly expanding heat network industry, enhance the skill set of maintenance professionals across the UK, and broaden opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to enter the sector.This apprenticeship represents a significant step in Birmingham’s efforts to decarbonise heating and stimulate the local economy. By providing residents with high-quality job opportunities and valuable skills, the programme ensures that the community benefits from the expansion of heat networks both within the West Midlands and beyond.
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), an arm’s length body of the Department for Education, has approved the apprenticeship for nationwide delivery. IfATE collaborates with employers to develop, approve, review, and revise apprenticeships and technical qualifications, ensuring they meet industry standards and address current workforce needs.
In summary, the Heat Network Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship launch at SCCB is poised to play a crucial role in advancing the UK’s net-zero objectives. It offers young people a unique opportunity to develop essential skills in a growing industry, contributing to the region’s environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.
SCCB is currently accepting expressions of interest for the Heat Network Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship programme. Email: apprenticeshipteam@sccb.ac.uk or call 0121 64 5066.
