Movers and shakers from the UK’s energy industry were present to celebrate the launch of the UK’s first bespoke dual fuel smart meter training centre, the Utilities Academy, created in joint venture with global energy recruitment specialists, Spencer Ogden.
The Academy is training smart meter engineers in response to the largest energy roll-out in decades. It is well placed to supply the expected demand for 14 thousand new engineers with its ground breaking go-to market business model to recruit, train, supply and retain specialist NSAP, and Gas Safe accredited dual fuel and smart metering engineers to the market.
Neil Robertson, Chief Executive of Energy and Utility Skills says: “The energy sector is gearing up for a significant challenge to ensure the government’s investment in this roll-out is carried out with the correct workforce, skills, and knowledge. Our mission is to ensure our energy industries have the skills they need now and in the future; the Utilities Academy is a fine example of just that.
Created by forward thinking and experienced energy sector workers I can see how the Academy will be creating a consistent flow of highly skilled and developed smart meter engineers – it’s good to see such commitment from a relatively small company – thank you for what you are doing to shape the future of the utility sector”.
Phil Bygrave, Commercial Director at Spencer Ogden Energy says: “This joint venture was a natural move for us. We are a company driven by investing in people, and the Utilities Academy upholds our own values of developing people, skills and knowledge to create better working practises and working environments. We’re looking forward to taking these highly skilled and employable smart meter engineers to the industry as a solution that will revolutionise the way smart meter technology is deployed in the UK.”
Daniel Coleman, Managing Director of the Utilities Academy says: “We’re incredibly happy to see months of hard work and planning come to fruition.
Our training has been designed to emulate exactly what a smart meter engineer will encounter in their daily work. We are the only company able to provide this much needed quality training to the energy industry and we’re hoping this will be the first of many centres across the country.”
Skanska, guests at the event, commented on the launch and the afternoon’s events Jonathan Clewer, Operations Manager at Skanska says: “All credit to you and the team Danny, you bring passion and quality to the fore, Utilities Academy is the best example of smart training I’ve seen – keep it going!”
The Utilities Academy is a unique and purpose built dual fuel smart meter training facility. Based in Bradford the Academy has secured accreditation status with the National Skills Council, BPEC, Gas Safe Register, CITB and NSAP and Gold Provider of Independently Assessed Energy & Efficiency Assessors.
Pictured: Neil Robertson, Chief Executive of Energy and Utility Skills (left) with Daniel Coleman, Managing Director of Utilities Academy (right), officially opening the UK’s first dedicated smart meter dual fuel training academy.