Building the Next Generation of Skilled Professionals

In February 2023, South Bank Colleges opened the London South Bank Technical College (LSBTC) in the buzzing London district of Nine Elms. The modern college offers a stimulating vocational and technical curriculum in a state-of the-art workplace environment.

Since opening, LSBTC have offered tech-focused courses including apprenticeships in key areas such as Engineering, Construction and Green Skills. Their mission being to prepare students for high-demand science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics (STEAM) and other skilled careers by closing skills gaps, with a focus on future-fit skills and real-world impact.

Addressing the Skills Gap in Low Carbon Careers

With an ever-growing concern for how climate change is affecting the environment, young people are increasingly pursuing careers within the green economy.

Although there has been a rise in popularity for these careers, there is still a substantial skills gap, with young people having ambition but a lack of knowledge into how to gain the skills needed to progress within these careers.

London South Bank Technical College are bridging the gap by working with NOCN Group to provide the Level 3 Low Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship. The apprenticeship was one of six apprenticeships chosen by King Charles at his coronation, reflecting His Majesty’s longstanding commitment to sustainability.

“We were the first in the country to sign up for that, to show some interest. Because we are a very modern technical college with a whole suite of different green skills, equipment, and workshops, we thought we would be ideally suited to delivering this apprenticeship.” Tim Weston, Director of Career Pathways at South Bank Colleges.

 

Leading the Way in Ground Source Heat Pump Training

LSBTC are setting the further education (FE) industry standard for green skills education with their fully operational ground source heat pump technology. Ground source heat pumps are progressively being seen as the future of sustainable heating, and with the commitment of the UK government to hit net-zero targets, the need for trained professionals in this technology is predicted to grow.

Learners on the NOCN Group Level 3 Low Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship have the unique opportunity to engage with the fully operational equipment from Quantum Training.

For one learner, Connie Pawsey, she explained the benefits of having direct access to a ground source heat pump as part of the apprenticeship:

“I have never installed one. I've come across one at work before, but being able to visualise everything in one place is really helpful. On-site learning and the mixture of having that plus the paperwork in hand is really useful.”

A Streamlined Route Into Renewable Heating Engineering

The NOCN Group Level 3 Low Carbon Heating Technician apprenticeship delivers a wide spanning curriculum, with Tim Weston pointing out that “it helps to show potential employers that they will become skilled at a variety of different skills, including plumbing, electrical, and F gas that normally only air conditioning and refrigeration apprentices do. So, it covers a whole host of different skills.”

The apprentices on the course are thriving on the scope of the apprenticeship, many pointing out that the content of the course will save them a significant amount of time and they could avoid having to take multiple apprenticeships over many years.

“I looked into how plumbing was going more towards renewables. NOCN was the only course that was running based around the renewables aspects, because otherwise you have to do a plumbing course and you have to do courses on top of that to become a qualified heating engineer.”

Connie Pawsey, Low Carbon Heating Technician Apprentice

By partnering with South Bank Colleges and Quantum Training, we are helping to create meaningful pathways into renewable heating careers, empowering the next generation of engineers to lead the UK toward a cleaner, low-carbon future.

Watch the video below to discover how South Bank Colleges are making a real difference in young people's lives.