British Gas apprentices to be skilled in EV chargepoint tech

British Gas is to take on apprentices to train as Smart Energy Experts, who will be upskilled to install and maintain carbon-efficient technologies, including EV charging points.

A nationwide recruitment drive has kicked off this week with a landmark EV journey from John O’Groats to Land’s End.
 
The vans making the journey are two of the 3,000 Vauxhall Vivaro-e vehicles British Gas has purchased over the last two years, representing the largest ever EV order for a commercial fleet in the UK.
 
Steve Winter, Head of Fleet at British Gas said: “We know there will need to be at least 2.3 million charging points nationwide before the end of the decade, equating to more than 700 chargers installed every day until 2030. That’s why engineers with green skills will be urgently required across the country.”
 
Those future engineers will receive technical skills training and the knowledge they need for the job at one of the award-winning British Gas training academies in Dartford, Hamilton, Thatcham and Leicester. Once qualified as Smart Energy Experts, they will then be upskilled to install and maintain carbon-efficient technologies, including EV charging points, heat pumps and hydrogen boilers, and to provide essential energy efficiency advice to customers.
 
The vehicles are fully fleet managed by Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions (HCVS), which has partnered with British Gas on its decarbonisation and sustainability objectives to transition the 12,000-strong British Gas fleet to electric by 2025.
 
British Gas’s commitment to be net zero by 2050 – enabling the transition to a lower carbon future – complements HCVS’s intelligent fleet decarbonisation strategy, with this partnership highlighting a commitment to vehicle-led sustainability.
 
The partnership also includes seamless home charging installation for all British Gas engineers with EVs, as part of HCVS’ commitment to helping fleets undertake a full or partial transition to EVs.
 
While the aim of this week’s drive from John O’Groats to Land’s End is to fill the apprenticeship scheme with green engineers of the future, British Gas also wants to educate and drive EV adoption across its engineer base, demonstrating the ease and availability of charging along the 600-mile journey.
 
Steve Winter added: “Our UK charging infrastructure is constantly expanding, especially through London and the South East where almost half of UK charging points are located. We want to help showcase what it’s really like to plan routes, drive and charge an EV, helping to overcome range anxiety and empower our people to get behind our journey to net zero.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak have welcomed Centrica’s commitment to recruit and train 3,500 apprentices over the next ten years, which will help the UK economy provide the green skills required to support the Government’s target to deliver net zero.