ThermaMech has extended its commitment to the future green skills workforce by welcoming a new intake of apprentices this year. Starting their studies this Autumn, the apprentices will attend colleges in Bicton and Bristol, studying several disciplines that are vital to the successful delivery of Heat Networks. They will carry out their practical work at ThermaMech sites across the UK, learning from the wider team.
The four new recruits will join ThermaMech’s existing five apprentices who have spent the last year hard at work across our projects in Bristol and Exeter. The apprentices will join the Low Carbon Heating Technician apprenticeship, Groundworker, and Building Services Engineering apprenticeship programme.
The Green Skills Gap is a very real challenge faced by the UK in its journey to net zero. In its race to decarbonise operations by 2050, the country needs skilled workers in several disciplines to deliver the new energy infrastructure to decarbonise. Current estimates show that to drive these emerging energy sectors – of which district heating is one – around 400,000 jobs are required, and as of March 2025, it’s estimated that around half of these cannot currently be filled due to lack of expertise and knowledge. Add to that the fact that in the wider construction industry, 41% of workers are expected to retire by 2031, an estimated 240,000 apprentices are needed over the next few years to fill those qualified positions.
In a challenging economy the green energy transition offers young people a career path that’s diverse in opportunity, certain in its requirement, and rewarding too. It puts skilled tradespeople at the centre of a transformation that will decarbonise the nation for the benefit of all.
Jordan Young, one of our new apprentices on the Low Carbon Heating Technician scheme commented:
“As part of the College course we study everything associated with the delivery of district heating – and then with ThermaMech we learn the practical skills that you can only get a grip of on site.
I’m enjoying being on site with the team, I’ve now spent time at both the Bristol and Bath projects. Everyone’s been welcoming and I’m learning a lot. My apprenticeship is the start of what I hope is a stellar career for myself, putting everything I’ve learned to good use across the UK’s Heat Networks.”
Finley-Jay Money is studying his apprenticeship at the South West Construction Academy and gave us some insight into how it’s been so far:
“I like learning about how things work – and that’s definitely been the most enjoyable part of my apprenticeship so far. There’s always a new challenge, and you get to see how experienced people tackle these and learn from them.
It’s been great meeting the team and other apprentices at Bath Hospital and I’m looking forward to qualifying to become the best version of myself, within the trade.”
If you’d like to register your interest for future apprenticeships, you can do so via our opportunities page.
