St Helens College unveils Green Energy Skills Centre

Located on Langtree Street, the facility will provide skills and training in an effort to meet emerging jobs and skills priorities in line with the government’s 2050 net zero target.

St Helens College has launched its Green Energy Skills Centre, delivered in partnership with employers including Ideal Heating, Kingspan, and Intatec with the intention of meeting the growing demand for skilled and qualified workers to support the drive to a carbon-free economy.

The specialised facility will aid the upskilling of industry professionals, as well as the training of future heating engineers in renewable energy technologies such as air source heat pumps.

Arguably the most exciting part of the development, a renewable training home sponsored by Ideal Heating has been created. The replica home features energy-saving and low-carbon appliances including a heat pump and hot water cylinder.

Features include a training home. Credit: Fotopia Photography

A range of plumbing and heating courses will be taught at the centre, ranging from level two and three technical qualifications to apprenticeships and adult training courses.

St Helens College has invested more than £500,000 into the facility, including an investment boost from the Department for Education’s Strategic Development Fund.

Phil Walsh, head of construction at St Helen’s College, said: “We aim to be the number one training centre for heating engineers in the UK, delivering quality skills training to the industry’s new and existing workforce to meet emerging green jobs and skills priorities.”

This development adds to the college’s existing green technology provision, which includes electric vehicle training at its STEM Centre Campus. The school plans to expand into solar thermal and photovoltaic systems in the future.