Energy & Utility Skills

EU Skills is focused upon the skills agenda of the UK gas industry, for both the transmission and distribution and utilisation of the fuel.

Gas transmission and distribution includes the transportation of gas from various entry points such as beach terminals and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) ports, through the high pressure National Transmission pipeline, into the medium and low pressure local Gas Distribution Networks (GDN)

The distribution aspect includes and ends at the main control valve, usually adjacent to the meter at the premises being supplied. This also incorporates the storage and re-gasification of LNG, the manufacture and distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and other bottled gases, and the installation, operation and maintenance of the asset infrastructure. This part of the industry employs 18,500 people

Employing 123,700 people, the gas utilisation industry includes the installation and maintenance of gas-fired appliances in homes, commercial and industrial premises. The key skills developments in gas utilisation relate to improving energy usage and efficiency through increased use of energy efficient appliances, equipment and controls. Aligned to this is increased importance of new technology such as flue gas analysers to commission appliances to ensure they are operating to maximum energy performance. The drive towards greater fuel efficiency is also resulting in increased demand for combined heat and power units, ground and air source heat pumps, solar heating and hot water.

All businesses, and the people they employ to work on consumers' gas appliances must be registered with Gas Safe Register in order to work lawfully. Those on the Register are required to demonstrate ongoing competence in matters of gas safety, every five years.