After less than a year in his job, a Scottish Water apprentice has clinched both Scottish and UK top awards for his innovative work and presentation on using the natural flow of water to generate electricity.

Inspired by an industry-leading hydropower scheme at his local site in Falkirk, Zac Mooney presented at the Pipeline Industries Guild Professional Development Network Competition. At just 22 years old and competing against industry professionals with far greater experience, Zac first won the Scottish award before then going onto to double his success at the UK-wide event held in Coventry.

Addressing an audience of over 100 industry experts, Zac described how a turbine installed on a critical clean water main at Carron Valve Chamber will provide nearly 20% of the energy needs for the nearby Dalderse Waste Water Treatment Works.

The innovative project, which is being developed by Scottish Water Horizons, Scottish Water’s commercial subsidiary, is set to be one of the first in Europe where a clean water supply powers a wastewater site.

Expressing his gratitude, Zac said: “I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to showcase my hydropower learnings so early in my Scottish Water career.

“We are committed to becoming a net zero organization by 2040, and Scottish Water Horizons is delivering many projects in line with this goal. My work has a strong focus on the environment which is something I am very passionate about.

“The support from Scottish Water Horizons has been instrumental in my development and has given me the confidence to compete at such a high level at Pipeline Industries Guild Competitions.”

Scottish Water Horizons Project Manager and Zac’s mentor, John Lenehan, highlighted Zac’s unique approach:

“Zac distinguished himself by using a prop on stage – a small pressure reducing valve to demonstrate the power-generating potential in our pipes and flows. His winning presentation attracted significant interest from attendees, who were impressed by the carbon reduction and cost saving aspects.

“Zac has had a busy first nine months with us but has taken all these new experiences which come from a Scottish Water apprenticeship in his stride and has done brilliantly.”

The publicly owned utility has 175 apprentices across the business with Zac’s achievements in the Horizons Hydropower Team highlighting the varied nature of opportunities available through its apprenticeship programmes.

Rachel Bridge, Chair of the Pipeline Industries Guild, said:

“The Guild is passionate about nurturing talent and the Professional Development Network Presentation Competition provides a platform for individuals to showcase innovation, share best practice and learn together. I was delighted to attend and sit on the panel of judges for the final round of this year’s competition, Zac Mooney’s winning presentation on Harnessing the Hydropower in Pipes was a creative presentation of a circular solution harnessing energy from one process to utilise in another. It was excellent and a worthy winner.

“Zac presented confidently with interactive elements to engage the audience. We are delighted that his idea has now been shared amongst the pipeline operators in the UK and look forward to seeing this idea progress across the water networks and wider pipeline industry sectors.”

Polymer window manufacturer REHAU is launching a new CPD for sector stakeholders covering the fenestration considerations when retrofitting the housing stock.

Social housing providers must currently meet net zero emissions targets by 2050, with an intermediary target of a 68% reduction by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. Yet with the Climate Change Committee’s 2023 Report to Parliament suggesting reduction rates must almost quadruple to achieve 2030’s target[1], pressure is on specifiers to identify new approaches to ensure overall sustainability.

Faced with this challenge and previous research suggesting that the largest share of social housing was found in buildings constructed between 1945 and 1980[2], REHAU is highlighting the role of retrofitting in decarbonising existing building stock. Specifically, following the Government’s announcement of a further £1.25bn to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, the polymer solutions provider is encouraging specifiers to review component selection with thermal efficiency as a priority.

“To meet its ambitious net zero goals, the social housing sector needs to identify where their actions can have the biggest impact possible when reducing emissions,” explains Martin Hitchin, CEO for REHAU UK. “Of the available decarbonisation routes, component specification stands out as a key area where improvements can be made – especially in retrofit projects. Considering the scope of the UK’s social housing stock and the funds available to improve energy performance, there are huge opportunities available to well-informed sector stakeholders, which is why we have launched this new CPD.”

Titled ‘Retrofit Window & Door Solutions for Social Housing,’ REHAU’s latest CPD explores key factors when selecting components for existing building stock, including compliance considerations, building regulations and standards, and third-party approvals processes. According to Mr. Hitchin, given the key role of windows and doors in a property’s overall thermal efficiency, increased awareness of the sustainability and performance of specific components will be vital to the sector achieving its net zero targets.

“Windows and doors are the main routes through which heat leaves or is retained within a property, so it is logical to begin with these systems when improving thermal efficiency,” he explains. “Ensuring these crucial components can meet the compliance requirements of building regulations and achieve additional product accreditations should therefore be paramount among the priorities of social housing specifiers.

“With that in mind, we hope this new CPD can assist the sector in its decarbonisation journey and keep project decisionmakers updated on what is possible with more sustainable systems. By working together with third parties in these areas, the industry is sure to make greater, swifter progress against net zero goals and deliver greener social housing that is fit for the future.”

To find out more about REHAU’s latest CPD, Retrofit Window & Door Solutions for Social Housing, CLICK HERE.

Notes
[1] https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Progress-in-reducing-UK-emissions-2023-Report-to-Parliament-1.pdf
[2] https://www.statista.com/statistics/292252/age-of-housing-dwellings-in-england-uk-by-tenuree/

Mark Krull criticises the recently launched ‘Low Carbon Apprenticeships’ as a PR exercise that ignores the needs and opportunities in the building services sector. As Director of a leading awarding organisation for renewable qualifications, and “a long-time member of Greenpeace”, he says, “you might be surprised that I’m not a big fan of the new ‘Low Carbon Apprenticeship'”. He explans further, below.

While there is no doubt that we need more installers with the skills to fit heat pumps and other renewable technologies (and more new entrants to the sector in general), the UK is a long way off from becoming fossil-fuel free. Most homes are still heated by gas, and this is not going to change anytime soon.

In fact, by offering this route to young people keen to forge a career in our exciting and varied sector, we are doing them a disservice and limiting their options. Making apprentices choose between traditional or low carbon routes is the wrong approach for all concerned.

At the UK’s current stage in its path to Net Zero we need multi-skilled installers, that can install heat pumps and, for a short time at least, new gas boilers. Once no longer installed, there will still be servicing and maintenance requirements for the millions of gas boilers that will be in use for 20 – 30 years to come. These multi-skilled installers will also be kept busy removing and decommissioning gas appliances from properties making the switch the heat pumps and other low carbon technologies. Only knowing about renewables is extremely limiting.

I imagine a Low Carbon Apprenticeship is more appealing to the younger generation, it sounds progressive, eco conscious and on the face of it, better for the world at large than choosing the plumbing and gas route. What we need, however, is a ‘Heating Apprenticeship’ that offers multi-technology pathways, with plumbing and gas at its core alongside heat pumps, biomass and/or solar thermal options.

At the moment, gas apprentices can of course go on to add heat pumps (something we will championing at Logic4training with the launch of our own apprenticeships later this year), what would be better is if the low carbon arm of our industry was explicitly included from the beginning.

Polarising the installer-base does our sector no favours
Its time we stopped polarising our sector and served the building services landscape as it currently stands. Consumers need installers trained to understand their heating requirements now and in the future; they’re looking for guidance on what’s best for their individual circumstance – only someone with a good understanding of the different options available can provide this guidance suitably.

The role of the installer should not be underestimated in the path to Net Zero. We have a real opportunity with our young apprentices to create installers that meet the UK’s current and future needs. The Low Carbon Apprenticeship is far too narrow a view.

www.logic4training.co.uk
www.lclawards.co.uk

The Association for Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) has revised and relaunched its internationally acclaimed Ex Repair course for individuals involved in repairing electromechanical equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres. This was in response to feedback from previous delegates, said the group.

The revised course builds on the success of the Association’s Ex Theory, Ex Hands-On, and Ex Refresher courses, consolidating the learning into one new course designed for both those new to Ex equipment repair and those looking to refresh their knowledge – either online or in person.

The AEMT’s Ex repair training is in line with the IEC standard for Repair Overhaul and Reclamation of Hazardous Area Equipment – IEC BS EN 60079-19:2019, which requires that “…all personnel are up to date with the latest techniques, safety standards and regulations relevant to explosive atmospheres.” The standard also requires that training be refreshed within a three-year timescale to ensure knowledge remains current.

This updated course brings those training in Ex repair for the first time alongside those refreshing their knowledge for the duration of the three-day course. As well as simplifying the offer to delegates and the companies they work for, the opportunity for those attending to network brings other benefits.

Thomas Marks, General Manager and Secretary of the AEMT, explained: “Bringing together new and established learners brings benefits as the more experienced delegates will ask questions that would not necessarily occur to those new to the area, while those with a fresh perspective often make observations those familiar with EX Repair may not consider. So, it adds to the learning experience for both groups.”

The courses are delivered face-to-face in locations across the globe, and now online as well, to improve access and offer a more sustainable solution where suitable.

Throughout the course, delegates are regularly assessed to help the trainers ensure knowledge is retained and upon completion of the course, a certificate of assessment is issued. The AEMT is a recognised training provider by the IECEx to Unit 005, so those pursuing certified competency (IECEx CoPC) are on the right course.

Companies looking to enrol staff on the training do not need to be members of the AEMT, but those who are, benefit from ongoing support related to the overhaul, repair, or reclamation of Ex equipment.

Further details of the courses, a schedule of forthcoming sessions and details of how to enrol can be found on the AEMT website at https://bit.ly/43FJdb7

Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS), an annual event for the environmental services industry, has announced the launch of a webinar aimed at addressing critical skills shortages in the environmental sector. With demand currently outstripping supply, the online event entitled ‘ESS 2050: Green Skills’ will focus on how employers can bridge the gap in green jobs across the nation.

Taking place on Friday 26 April from 12:00-14:00, the webinar will feature presentations and discussions on government initiatives, apprenticeship schemes, regional differences, and collaborations between UK universities and the industry. It will also offer businesses practical steps to train the next generation, strategies to make the sector more attractive to the younger generations, and collaborative solutions to address green skills shortages.

The webinar will be co-hosted by Groundwork, the official charity partner of ESS Expo, and chaired by Adam Read, Chief Sustainability & External Affairs Officer of SUEZ and member of the Green Jobs Delivery Group.

Joining the session will be leading industry voices Melissa Vogeley, Team Leader – Green Jobs & Skills for Net Zero at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Aashya Zina, Department for Education, providing an update on the Green Jobs Delivery Group.

Sally Hayns, CEO of The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) will address Barriers to Nature-based Green Jobs, while Beth Whittaker, Chief Human Resources Officer of Veolia Northern Europe Zone, will deliver a case study on Future Talent to Deliver GreenUp. The former will look at overcoming certain challenges to support the expansion of a committed, engaged workforce, while the latter will explore future talent including graduates, apprentices, and internships, as well as green skills planning for future roles and over 50s talent.

Venetia Knight, Head of Employment and Enterprise at charity, Groundwork, will present on Increasing the Attractiveness of Sector to young people, followed by a joint session from Dr. Aris Alexoulis, Senior Lecturer in Mechatronics at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Dr Steve Jones, Connected Curriculum Lead at Siemens, on the Connected Curriculum: How Academia and Industry can Collaborate on Education. The Siemens Connected Curriculum is a collaborative partnership that equips member universities with an extensive portfolio of technology learning materials and real-world industrial case studies covering all aspects of the product lifecycle.

Commenting on the webinar, Rob Mowat, Managing Director of ESS Expo, said: “We are excited to be launching the first in our new series of webinars. ESS 2050: Green Skills is a unique opportunity for operators, local authorities, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and stakeholders from education and development to engage in a conversation crucial for shaping the future of the environmental workforce. We have already received a remarkable amount of interest in this opportunity and are looking forward to sharing the debate with all those involved in the sector on 26 April.”

To sign up to join the ESS 2050: Green Skills webinar on Friday 26^th April, visit the website here.

To register your interest to attend ESS Expo 2024 from 11-12 September at the NEC Birmingham, visit the website here.

A greater understanding of how plants and microbes work together to store vast amounts of atmospheric carbon in the soil will help in the design of better bioenergy crops for the fight against climate change, say the authors of a new paper.

Deciphering the mechanics of this mutually beneficial relationship is challenging, however, as conditions in nature are extremely difficult for scientists to replicate in the laboratory. To address this challenge, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) created fabricated ecosystems or EcoFABs.

In a new paper in Science Advances, they show how these takeout box–sized, plastic growth chambers could potentially provide scientists with a standardized and reproducible platform for conducting experiments on model plants and the microbes that live around their roots.

This could in turn expedite research into the development of improved bioenergy crops capable of growing in nutrient-poor soils and absorbing more carbon from the atmosphere than is currently possible.

“The overarching idea behind EcoFABs is that there is a real need for a platform in plant microbiome research that enables scientists to better share data and build on each other’s work,” said Vlastimil Novak, lead author of the paper and a project scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology (EGSB) Division. “At the moment, there are around 20 laboratories that are using our devices, but we would eventually like to make them more broadly accessible to anyone in the world.”

For the study, Novak and colleagues in Trent Northen’s lab used EcoFABs to test how different forms of nitrogen affect the production of organic substances given off by the roots in Brachypodium, a small grass species used as a model for bioenergy grasses.

Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, and Novak noticed in the literature that its relationship with root exudation, or the types of compounds produced by a plant’s roots, had not been well explored in this grass species.

He and his collaborators conducted experiments supplying Brachypodium with different nitrogen sources – ammonium, nitrate, or a combination – and observed changes in root exudate composition. They found that varying levels of nitrogen affected the type of compounds produced by the roots and that the plants grew best when they received both ammonium and nitrate.

One interesting finding was the production of dopamine in the root exudates only when both ammonium and nitrate were present together. This suggests that specific nutritional conditions influence the production of certain metabolites which could in turn affect plant growth.

“The outcomes of this research can inform nutrient management practices, fundamentally saying that for Brachypodium or similar grasses, it is essential to supply both ammonium and nitrate simultaneously for optimal growth,” Novak said. “It also gives us ideas of some pretty interesting organic compounds in the root microbiome to investigate in the future.”

EcoFABs could ultimately be combined with advances in robotics and AI learning to dramatically increase the speed of discovery in plant microbiome research. Another up-and-coming development at Berkeley Lab is something called the EcoBOT, an automated robotic system that can run EcoFAB experiments autonomously.

“We could ultimately design experiments on a computer and then it does everything for you,” said Pete Andeer, an EGSB research scientist who worked with Northen to design the EcoFAB. “That would be the end goal: integration of these EcoFAB devices with the EcoBOT system.”

A tool for learning
In addition to providing a plethora of benefits for professional scientists, EcoFABs are also making an imprint in the classroom where they are being used both by high school and community college students as a platform for learning in California.

The Northen lab’s current EcoFAB outreach activities involve collaborations with various educational institutions, including local high schools and Los Medanos College. Since 2020, high school students participating in the Berkeley Lab Director’s Apprenticeship Program have conducted experiments using EcoFABs to study plant growth under different nitrogen conditions. The research project continues to be a highlight of the program with many students gaining interest in biology and laboratory research as a result.

“EcoFABs allowed us to discuss microorganisms in the classroom in a way that connected other units,” said Christina McGhee-Esquivel, a biology teacher at Skyline High School in Oakland who learned about EcoFABs when she was a teacher fellow with Berkeley Lab’s K-12 team in 2021. “This was incredibly important for students to get to see not just how roots grow, but to understand microbial communities.”

Further collaborations with organizations like Biotech Partners aim to introduce biotech education, including the use of EcoFABs, to minority-serving high schools across the Bay Area. Additionally, discussions are underway to integrate EcoFABs into more undergraduate education at Los Medanos College where students will have the opportunity to design and conduct their own plant experiments again in summer 2024.

“Research is not traditionally a part of the community college experience, but many of our STEM students want to transfer and go on to do research or work in labs, internships, those types of things,” said Jill Bouchard, a biology professor at Los Medanos College. “Getting them experience with research is really important to us. And this has been a wonderful way to do it.”

This research and technology development was supported in part by the US Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

The Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) returned to Coventry on 23 October for its Annual Awards Ceremony. With a record number of submissions across the seven categories, this year’s programme produced some exceptional entries from the electro-mechanical arena.

The Doubletree by Hilton played host to the gala presentation dinner, which celebrated professional endeavour and innovation in this field.

The 2023 AEMT Awards winners are listed below, with individual award citations for each (words by the AEMT).

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by DFA MEDIA GROUP
Menzel Motors: Pressurized Explosion Proof Motors for Zone 1
Customers that operate larger motors in hazardous areas, typically refineries and chemical plants, need to prevent ignitable gasses from entering operating machines. The Menzel system allows large modular motor operation in Zone 1 CACA or CACW, normally from 450mm frames and larger at all voltage ratings, combining Menzel’s well-known flexibility, expertise, and speed of response with the requirements for Zone 1 operation. They are custom-built to site requirements and the highest safety standards. Highly qualified staff ensure that Menzel can respond at very short notice: With EXP systems in stock readily adaptable and deployable at short notice this is a unique feature for a medium-sized motor manufacturer such as Menzel.

PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by EMiR SOFTWARE
MKE Engineering Group: Browndown Pumping Station
The project took place at a water utility company pumping station that was experiencing frequent tripping of equipment. Originally commissioned in the 1970’s it was in desperate need of an upgrade. Using ABB Ultra Low Harmonic drives potential issues with harmonics have been mitigated, whilst providing a clean user-friendly operating system. Feedback from the customer has been excellent, not for just the elimination of the rogue tripping but also for the sizeable energy savings.

SERVICE CENTRE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by ABB
Avonmouth Engineering Services
Avonmouth Engineering Services’ custom-built 70,000 square foot site is the largest single workshop facility for electrical and mechanical repairs in the UK. Alongside its second 20,000 square foot division in Cheltenham, the company provides an extensive range of inhouse and onsite services for the repair, overhaul, and upgrade of electromechanical technologies across the entire rotodynamic industry, with a special focus on reliability services and the pump industry.

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by MEGGER
TEC Electric Motors
TEC motors currently hold over £16 million pounds worth of Power Transmission stock in the UK, all available for immediate same day shipping; whether the requirement is a 0.09kw or a 645kw motor, a compact frame, a B56 or Brake motor, as UK’s largest independent electric motor stockist, TEC has the product. In over 18 years the company has sold over 1.5 million motors providing 24 hour, 365 days a year emergency solution to all AEMT members.

CONTRIBUTION TO SKILLS & TRAINING
Sponsored by SULZER
Ian Pattinson: The Faraday Centre
Ian, a devoted member of the Faraday Centre Limited for 23 years, began his engineering journey at English Electric, honing his expertise before transitioning to impactful roles at British Steel. Passionate about Power Distribution and Transformers, he later became a High Voltage lecturer dedicating himself to safety and education globally. Ian’s legacy encompasses exceptional teaching, consultancy, and an enduring commitment to shaping engineers and fostering a safety driven industry culture.

RISING STAR AWARD
Sponsored by TEC ELECTRIC MOTORS
Josh Bottomley: EMiR
Josh Bottomley is Team Manager for Hosted Services and EMiR Support. Josh manages a team of support engineers who provide technical and maintenance support for EMiR Software and EMiR-Cloud, the electro-mechanical industry’s leading ERP software solution. Over the last 4 years, Josh has gone from unqualified apprentice to EMiR Support Team Leader and now heads up a team of support engineers, inspiring them to perform at the highest levels and trying hard to improve our service every day.

DIVERSITY IN ENGINEERING AWARD
Sponsored by PREFORMED WINDINGS
Hidrostal: Incorporating Avonmouth Engineering Services, Bedford Pumps & Hidrostal
At Hidrostal GB, ED&I is embedded into its culture. From recruitment to career development, alongside everyday life at work, the company ensures that its employees feel supported, valued, and accommodated whatever their individual needs. As part of the UK Home Office sponsorship scheme, Hidrostal has a strong focus on wellbeing with EAP Programmes, MHFAiders and Wellness rooms onsite. Its Diversity & Equal Opportunities policy has been adopted by the AEMT as a blueprint for others.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Sponsored by AEMT
Dave Beresford: Preformed Windings

This year, the AEMT is honoured to recognise Mr. Dave Beresford with the AEMT Special Recognition Award for his exemplary performance throughout his career. He started his career as a time served winder back in the sixties progressing to works manager and took responsibility for moving his then business to Newcastle. He has conducted various roles including technical manager, technical sales, and coil shop manager. His sense of community is highlighted by the positive connections made all over the world. Just by mentioning his name you are bound to bring a smile to those who he has worked with and known throughout the decades. His dedication to sustainability and quality has led him to innovate techniques such as press cooling and chiller insulation when forming coils. These improved processes have led to increased efficiency and reduced waste. Most of all, his enthusiasm to share knowledge and educate apprentices, colleagues and customers alike really resonated with the AEMT’s management committee. It exemplifies the values the AEMT holds true to its heart – education, community, and quality.

Commenting on the awards dinner, Thomas Marks, Secretary and General Manager at the AEMT said: “This year’s awards proved to be another remarkable success and once again provided an excellent forum through which to celebrate business and professional excellence. I very much look forward to building on that success for the 2024 programme, and to providing another superb platform for promoting the excellent work being undertaken by electromechanical service and repair sector. I would urge everyone engaged in this key part of the engineering arena, to consider the promotional value that this awards programme can deliver and ensure that your business is suitably represented.”

The number of green jobs advertised in the UK has fallen from the record levels recorded in 2022, albeit at a smaller rate than the decline seen in the UK’s job market overall, according to professional services firm PwC’s latest Green Jobs Barometer.

High interest rates and a challenging economic backdrop have seen the number of total advertised roles fall by 29%, while the number of green jobs fell by 26%. This degree of resilience of green jobs has seen their share of the UK labour market increase to 2.3% (up from 2.2% in 2022 and 1.9% in 2021). However, when accounting for the number of green jobs required across the economy to power the UK’s transition to net zero by 2050, this deceleration in overall demand, in the face of a cooling labour market, poses a potential challenge.

PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer, now in its third year, has identified for the first time that green jobs tend to be higher quality jobs, reflecting both higher levels of pay and greater levels of job satisfaction compared to non-green roles. The higher level of pay is not simply a reflection of the skills required; the Barometer has also detected a pay premium for many entry level jobs, with 60% of occupations commanding a 23% pay premium on average for entry level green roles. The Barometer also highlighted that green jobs tend to require longer working hours and are slightly more likely than non-green roles to be based on temporary employment contracts.

Carl Sizer, Head of Regions and Platforms at PwC, said: “Green jobs are a good proxy for the greening of the economy. That green jobs account for a growing proportion of the jobs market is encouraging, but we need to see a significant increase in new green jobs to meet net zero goals. A drop in the number of advertised roles is concerning given the scale of what needs to be achieved.

“It’s more important than ever to ensure that the transition towards a low-carbon economy brings workers and communities with it. Our research also points to the benefits of green jobs for workers, with better pay and job satisfaction, but highlights different sectors and regions that stand to be affected differently. Concerted effort will be needed to spread the benefits of green jobs and a green economy.”

Scotland tops the index for a third consecutive year
Scotland is the best performing region in the UK and leads in green job creation, with 4.04% of all jobs advertised considered as green (up from 3.3% last year), compared with 2.32% for the UK as a whole. Northern Ireland also performs well, but from a comparatively small base (2.4% this year compared to 1.9% in 2022).

Despite London advertising for over 10,000 fewer green jobs than last year, the capital maintained its considerable lead over the other regions by number of jobs, seeking to fill a total of 45,219 roles and enjoying the second highest regional increase in the proportion of green jobs to other jobs. London and the South East show the largest absolute number of vacancies, accounting for 33% of all new green job postings in the UK.

At the other end of the spectrum, five of the twelve UK regions (South East, East Midlands, Wales, North East, East of England) fare worse than the national trend – and see the number of green jobs advertised fall at a greater rate than the fall in all jobs advertised in their region.

Collectively, this suggests that the opportunities of the transition to net zero are increasingly concentrated in certain regions.

Green jobs concentrated in white collar and skilled professions
New analysis in this year’s Barometer reveals that on a range of measures, access to green jobs remains unevenly spread by background, undercutting the opportunity for a competitive and equitable green job market.

Compared to the labour market overall, green jobs tend to be concentrated in “white collar” roles and require a higher level of education at degree level or equivalent. This is especially true in the regions which have seen the strongest performance of green jobs; in Scotland, London and the South East almost 40% of green jobs advertised require a university degree or equivalent experience.

Workers from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds are underrepresented in green roles compared to their share of the labour market overall. For example in London, where workers from these communities account for 36% of the workforce they account for only 30% of workers in green jobs.

A significant proportion of the rise in green jobs has been driven by roles requiring a background in science, technology and maths (STEM), subjects that are well-known to traditionally under-represent women.

Lynne Baber, Sustainability Leader at PwC UK, added: “Improving access to green jobs will help ensure that the opportunities are evenly spread. It will also help mitigate against the risks of companies struggling to fill green roles. If managed correctly, the green economy can help tackle long-standing inequalities in society by equipping workers with the skills and tools to access the green opportunities of the future. But it will require cross-sector and regional collaboration, expanding opportunities to diverse populations and creating jobs that are closer to local communities – for example nature positive jobs as without nature there can be no net zero.”

A biofuel cell technology for generating electricity from wastewater has secured two national engineering awards for a team of researchers at the University of Nottingham.

The team met in 2020 as PhD researchers at the university via the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme. Now, their early-stage cleantech startup, Pipeline Organics, is seeking further support.

The group has developed what is described as a higher efficiency biofuel cell technology which is seemingly amenable to retrofit into existing infrastructure to immediately start generating renewable electricity. A fully operational product is expected to launch in 2025.

On Friday 3 November, the team scooped up two awards at the Engineers in Business Champion of Champions grand final at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London hosted by TV presenter and engineer, Rob Bell.

The team impressed judges, winning the Enterprise Award worth £5,000, and picked up the top prize in the Startup category, winning a further £3,000 and mentorship to help them take their business idea to the next level.

Arielle Torres, Chief Executive Officer of Pipeline Organics, said: “The support that comes with these awards is exactly what we need right now. We’re at a critical point in our business, preparing to scale through strategic hires and raising capital investment. These prizes take us one step closer to reaching our goals.”

Andrew Raslan, Chief Operating Officer of Pipeline Organics, adds: “We aim to capitalise on our recent successes and expanding portfolio of research to secure additional grant funding to support market alignment and technological advancements. One of our main objectives is to establish co-innovation partnerships with target customers, including within the water industry in order to access Ofwat Innovation funding.”

The team also received CV packages from PurpleCV and entrepreneurial books from Cambridge University Press and Double your Price, a book by David Falzani MBE, which covers how pricing works with practical insights, tools, and actionable guidance.

The event was the culmination of a year of enterprise competitions held across UK universities, with thousands of undergraduate and graduates taking part.

Each year, Engineers in Business Fellowship champions business education for engineers and supports universities by giving them grants to award prizes to engineering students who develop ideas that can make a positive impact on society.

For more information about the competition, visit www.eibc.org.uk

Thousands of people will have the chance to train for careers in nuclear fusion technology, under UK government plans unveiled on 16 October.

Speaking at the IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Nuclear Minister Andrew Bowie set out details of the new £650 million Fusion Futures Programme – part of the UK’s updated Fusion Strategy.

Measures include the creation of more than 2,200 training places across the country, a new fuel cycle testing facility to focus on commercialising the technology and funding to develop infrastructure for private fusion companies.

This includes growing and improving the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) dedicated campus in Culham, Oxfordshire, recently visited by Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho, which will help drive further investment.

Fusion could generate a near unlimited supply of clean electricity in the long-term, and its development in the UK will help to create jobs, grow the economy, and strengthen the country’s energy security – delivering a cleaner energy system that will benefit future generations.

The UK is already a world leader in fusion technology and is well placed to share its knowledge and expertise around the globe. This Government support will further cement that position, with the £650 million spending outlined today taking the total Government investment in fusion to over £1.4 billion since 2021.

Speaking at the IAEA Fusion Energy Conference 2023, Minister for Nuclear and Networks, Andrew Bowie, said: “With world-leading scientific talent and expertise based here in the UK, we have a golden opportunity to be at the cutting-edge of fusion and lead the way in its commercialisation as the ultimate clean energy source.

“The Fusion Futures Programme, backed by £650 million, will be at the core of delivering this, training thousands of people across the country and ensuring we have the best possible facilities to develop this exciting new technology.”

CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), Professor Sir Ian Chapman, said:

“Delivering fusion power will require ideas to solve science and engineering challenges, involvement of industry partners, development of thousands of skilled people and strong international partnerships.

“Fusion Futures will invest in all of these aspects – a truly concerted programme that will support economic growth and high-quality jobs as well as advancing fusion as part of a future sustainable energy mix.”

The £650 million funding for the Fusion Futures Programme will include:

• Up to £200 million for a Fuel Cycle Testing Facility, to develop technology in breeding fuel for fusion power plants, which will provide opportunities for the UK to become a world leader and exporter in tritium intellectual property;
• Up to £200 million for vital R&D ensuring industry can develop and design components for future fusion powerplants;
• Up to £50 million for growing and improving the Culham campus in Oxfordshire, building new premises to create vibrant concentrations of fusion companies, and helping drive inward investment into the UK;
• Up to £55 million for a Fusion Skills Programme, to train over 2,200 people over the next five years by working with business and universities to expand fusion training programmes;
• Up to £35 million additional funding for the Fusion Industry Programme (FIP), a challenge fund supporting UK companies to develop new technologies;
• Up to £25 million to enhance international collaborations on fusion R&D, to export UK expertise and make best use of global knowledge to accelerate fusion energy;
• Up to £18 million for a Technology Transfer Hub, strengthening connections between the UK’s leading research organisations and other programmes worldwide, with a focus on commercialising fusion research;
• Up to £11 million to further support the STEP programme and upskill UK industry to help deliver it.

The announcement follows confirmation from the Government in September of its plans to put in place a suite of new research and development programmes to support the UK’s fusion sector and strengthen international collaboration.

The programme aligns with the core principle of international collaboration in the UK’s updated Fusion Strategy, also published on 16 October. The UK remains open to collaboration with the EU and other international partners, and this will form a key part of this new programme of work.

The fusion process involves heating a mix of two forms of hydrogen to extreme temperatures, 10 times hotter than the core of the Sun, causing them to fuse together to create helium and release huge amounts of energy.

The energy created can be used to generate electricity in the same way as existing power stations. Fusion is many million times more efficient, per kilogram, than burning coal, oil or gas.