By sparking curiosity about green careers and fostering key employability skills, E.ON is nurturing the next generation of trailblazers who will help drive the transition to net zero. 

The New Energy Academy introduces students to the vast and evolving world of sustainability-focused roles, expanding beyond traditional STEM careers to include marketing, data science, artificial intelligence and more. With sustainability at the core of many future professions, this programme emphasises the critical intersection of creativity, technology and leadership in building a greener world. 

Through hands-on activities and inspiring videos led by young professionals at E.ON, students see how their skills can make a difference in addressing climate challenges. From creative problem-solving to teamwork and communication, each activity immerses participants in real-world contexts that prepare them for green careers. 

At the heart of the programme are engaging, skill-building activities tailored to inspire action and innovation. Students participate in dynamic activities that challenge them to design forward-thinking solutions, such as sustainable city prototypes, and pitch their ideas to peers. These activities not only foster critical employability skills but also ignite a sense of agency as students envision themselves as future leaders and innovators. 

Teachers benefit too, with resources co-developed by practising teachers to ensure seamless integration into secondary teaching. Assemblies, PSHE lessons and STEM-focused materials align with updated Gatsby Benchmarks, making it easy to bring real-world sustainability themes into the classroom. 

Naomi Furlonger, E.ON UK’s Early Careers Talent Consultant said: “We’ve just welcomed our 1,000th apprentice to E.ON and are proud to be building the green workforce needed to ensure we deliver a net zero future. And we hope our new programme will help to educate, inspire and motivate young people and teachers to find out more how rewarding a green career can be.” 

“Our New Energy Academy is about more than education – it’s about empowerment,” said Scott Somerville, Director of External Affairs at E.ON UK. “We want young people to feel confident in their ability to lead the way to a new energy world, equipped with the skills and passion to make a real difference.

From 3 March to 23 May 2025, schools can participate in an exciting competition to celebrate the sustainability trailblazers who inspire their students. Teachers can guide their students to create submissions, which will be entered by the school. The most inspiring entries will earn the school a visit from Fara Williams MBE, a football legend, paired with an engaging live green skills workshop delivered by Hark. 

Teachers can integrate this challenge into lessons or assign it as homework, offering flexible and engaging opportunity for schools to explore sustainability topics. This comes at a crucial time, as nearly half of UK teachers (49%) report lacking confidence in teaching sustainability and climate change effectively, while about 70% have expressed the need for more professional development in integrating green skills into their lessons.

Furthermore, the updated Gatsby Benchmarks require teachers to ensure they link teaching to careers and pathway options while delivering meaningful business encounters across multiple years. By providing practical resources and structured support, E.ON’s New Energy Academy aims to bridge this gap, aligning with these benchmarks and empowering teachers to inspire their students with future-focused skills. 

Recent research from E.ON found that half of people (49%) want to develop the skills needed to thrive in a greener future, while 27% want a career that contributes to tackling the climate crisis. The New Energy Academy aims to support young people develop the skills to succeed in a more sustainable future and understand the opportunities available to build a green career. 

The New Energy Academy is open to all secondary students and offers a wealth of free resources to inspire and prepare young people for a sustainable future.

To learn more, enter the competition and register your school, visit eonenergy.com/new-energy-academy.

Pupils and teachers at Marshland Primary Academy in Moorends, near Doncaster, part of Venn Academy Trust, are celebrating cutting their carbon footprint after successfully installing a modern ground source heat pump system and other state-of-the-art energy efficiency measures.

Working with Kensa, the UK’s leading manufacturer and installer of ground source heat pumps, the school is trailblazing how to go green, overhauling its old heating and hot water system and replacing the ageing gas boilers with seven new ground source heat pumps.

The six-month project, partially funded by the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund, also included fitting new radiators and 69 solar PVT panels, an emerging technology used in renewable heating installations. The upgrades are expected to boost the school’s energy efficiency, cut heating-related carbon emissions by close to 80%, and ensure classrooms stay warm and comfortable throughout the year for the benefit of staff and pupils alike.

The newly installed ground source heat pumps use renewable energy stored in the earth to provide heating and hot water and are hidden inside two converted plant rooms. To reach the underground energy, 18 boreholes were drilled beneath the school’s playing field, each to a depth of around 127m.

Solar PVT has been integrated into the school’s ground source heating system, taking it beyond a standard ground source heat pump installation. The technology generates both electricity and thermal energy, supercharging the heat pump’s efficiency and lowering installation and energy costs. This integration works by:

• Thermal heat energy captured by the PVT panels is removed and transferred to the heat pump system, improving its efficiency and reducing electricity use.
• Using this excess thermal energy in the heat pump system significantly reduces the number of boreholes needed, lowering the overall installation costs.
• Extracting the excess thermal heat from the panels increases the amount of electricity they can produce compared to ordinary solar PV panels. It’s projected they will generate 34 kW of electricity—the output of 10 typical homes with solar panels.

Marshland Primary Academy is one of the first UK schools to embrace this energy-saving technology alongside a heat pump installation.

Investing in energy efficiency upgrades has provided the school with a low-cost, low-maintenance, renewable heating system, securing its energy future while providing long-term savings on heating and hot water bills.

To meet the government’s goals of reducing public sector carbon emissions by 75% by 2037, thousands of schools across the UK will need to follow Marshland Primary’s example, replacing their ageing, high-carbon-emitting heating systems and embracing more innovative, modern technologies.

This latest school ground source heat pump installation follows more than fifteen others Kensa has completed in schools, including in South Wales and Northumberland, along with another in Doncaster at Richmond Hill Primary School.

Penny Marshall, Acting Principal at Marshland Primary Academy, said: “It has been an exciting journey watching and learning about the innovative ground source heating. Although the children had to sacrifice their field for the summer, they enjoyed watching the holes being bored and learning from Kensa staff how the system worked.

“Energy efficiency and helping the environment is a big focus at Marshland, so it is exciting to be able to know that we are playing a small part in a much bigger picture by using natural resources to heat our school. This winter has been a toasty one at Marshland!”

Wouter Thijssen, Commercial Director at Kensa, said: “We’re proud to have worked with Marshland Primary Academy to deliver a more sustainable and efficient heating system. Thanks to a mix of super-efficient ground source heat pumps and other energy efficiency upgrades, pupils and teachers will enjoy warm classrooms while slashing their carbon footprint.

“By opting for ground source heat pumps, boosted by solar PVT, the school has secured its long-term energy future, setting the benchmark for achieving sustainability in UK schools. Kensa’s mission is to deliver better heating, and this installation certainly lives up to that promise.”

The new WSHP is set to be the largest fitted at any university and will power the university’s Docklands Campus Library and Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability buildings, replacing existing gas boilers – and together with campus existing green energy infrastructure, achieve carbon zero in these spaces.

Submerged in the River Thames, the closed-loop system will use a series of pipes to extract natural heat from the water in the Royal Albert Docks, providing a cost-effective heating system which will reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 258 tonnes without removing vast quantities of water from the river.

The system is scalable to allow the university to extend in the future similar heat pump systems across the Campus and the wider Royal Docks – the only Enterprise Zone in London – and is part of the long-term partnership with Siemens, which is supporting the university’s transition to net zero by 2030.

The strategic partnership, which was formed in 2022, has already seen Siemens deploy a variety of decarbonisation technologies including solar PV, Building Management Systems and EV charging infrastructure across the university campus. In addition, Siemens is using its Building X technologies and data analytics to allow UEL to better understand its energy consumption and drive research and enterprise programmes.

UEL has reduced its CO₂ emissions and carbon-producing energy consumption more than any other modern London university already, and by 2026 will achieve the lowest emissions per student in the UK – putting it on track to achieve its 2030 net zero targets.

The partnership is providing a clear, replicable blueprint for sustainability. As well as saving the university over £500,000 per year in utility costs and reducing emissions by over 1,000 tonnes annually, the partnership has driven a unique range of successful green employability, enterprise and research initiatives including student internships, MSc sponsorships, hackathons, and the creation of a ‘Living Lab’ for training and research on sustainability.

This project supports the Mayor of London’s vision for a greener, more sustainable capital, advancing his commitment to cleaner air, renewable energy, and achieving net zero by 2030.

The Minister’s visit to the area was planned as the region is part of the government’s Devolution Priority Programme, which includes plans for local control over key areas such as skills development and economic growth in Cheshire and Warrington. Minister McMahon was joined on the tour of the College by leaders of the three local authorities.

The tour included the College’s new Eco House, a cutting-edge £680,000 sustainable living project designed to provide students with hands-on experience in green technologies.

The Eco House offers an invaluable learning environment where students gain practical skills in sustainable construction, renewable energy, and green technologies — critical industries as the UK transitions to a low-carbon economy.

During his tour of the Eco House, Minister McMahon observed how the College is at the forefront of providing students with the practical experience needed to fill the skills gap in the UK’s green economy. The house is equipped with sustainable features such as ground source heat pumps, allowing students to engage in real-world projects focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy systems.

Mark Parsons, Assistant Principal of Curriculum at Cheshire College, spoke about the significance of the Eco House: “This facility is more than just a classroom; it’s a hub where students can apply their learning in a real-world environment, preparing them for careers that are critical to building a sustainable future.”

“The Eco House is a testament to the importance of hands-on education in green skills that will have a lasting positive impact on both our students and the planet.”

Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon OBE MP said:

“It was a pleasure to meet local leaders from across Cheshire and Warrington to discuss next steps on our Devolution Priority Programme.”

“There’s a huge opportunity here to take on powers over key areas like skills and planning that will help drive local growth and job creation – a key aim of this government’s Plan for Change.”

“This would help turbocharge the work already underway here through initiatives such as the Eco House skills scheme, and so I look forward to seeing the area progress on the journey to greater devolution.”

Cheshire College’s focus on sustainability is not only helping to address the UK’s skills shortage but also supporting the region’s economic growth. As Cheshire and Warrington move forward with their devolution plans, green skills education will be pivotal in ensuring the area remains at the forefront of a low-carbon, inclusive, and thriving economy.

The Green Innovators primary programme is designed to engage, inspire and educate young people about future career opportunities within the green economy, as well as enhance their confidence and attitudes to learning. It will encourage participants to develop their sustainability knowledge, taking part in projects designed to inspire new and exciting ideas to help the planet.

The programme will bring together 100 educators and more than 120 volunteers from key businesses to inspire and engage over 4,000 primary school students aged 7-11 from 30 different schools across the region. Parental and carer involvement is also highly encouraged to help embed learning throughout the school ecosystem.

Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) specialist Ahead Partnership has designed this collaborative programme with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to feed into its wider ‘Growing Talent Greener Futures’ programme, a multi-year scheme which aims to connect secondary school students with the green agenda.

As well as boosting interest in careers that will support a greener future, the aim of the Green Innovators primary initiative is to break down gender and social stereotypes and provide engaging activities which connect young people to opportunities. It will launch this academic year and will run until March 2026.

Ahead Partnership and the Combined Authority are currently encouraging businesses from all areas of West Yorkshire’s sustainability sector to get involved by putting forward volunteers for the programme.

The impact of this latest investment into young people is set to support wider sustainability goals for the region. By promoting skills, interest and understanding of the green economy, the Combined Authority is investing in a stronger future talent pipeline to support it in implementing its net-zero by 2030 goals.

In a 2022 study from the Learning and Work Institute, more than three in five young people said they were passionate about sustainability, but said they had never heard of green jobs.

This underscores the critical need for early education on these topics, ensuring that young people can access opportunities within this vital sector and contribute to the UK’s overall climate change targets. It will also create a huge opportunity for young people to find out about the high-skilled, well-paid careers open to them that fit with their values and interests in sustainability.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “The future is green, so we’re investing now to ensure that young people in West Yorkshire have the skills and the opportunities they need to succeed.

“This collaborative initiative will raise aspirations and build confidence, while showcasing the strength and innovation of our region’s growing green economy.

“As we work to deliver net zero by 2038, we must continue to inspire and open doors for the next generation to thrive in a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.”

Georgina Johnson, Programme Manager at Ahead Partnership, said: “We are incredibly excited to launch the Green Innovators Primary programme.

“We know it’s important to introduce opportunities to young people early. The OECD has found those as young as seven are having their career aspirations limited by harmful stereotypes. Programmes like this are crucial for helping them to think about their future goals and providing them with inspiring and diverse role models. We are committed to providing each young person with career guidance while they are on their education journey.

“Given the crucial role that green skills will play in all our futures, this brand-new programme couldn’t come at a better time, and is a fantastic way to inspire and provide meaningful opportunities for thousands of young people across West Yorkshire.”

The Solar for Schools CBS, which is owned and governed by the schools themselves, enables those schools to make savings on energy bills, reductions in CO2 emissions; and helps local authorities to progress towards their net zero targets.

While The Solar for Schools CBS currently owns and operates over 150 rooftop installations, it has over 100 schools on its waiting list. The new senior debt from Triodos Bank will be combined with crowdfunding bond finance to help the non-profit accelerate its work with around 30 more schools, including those in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK. To deliver the projects, the CBS works with SolarOptions for Schools, which develops and then manages the projects for the CBS, working closely with the CBS to secure funding.

The CBS also works with Solar Options for Schools to deliver interactive education forboth primary and secondary students to learn more about renewable energy, climate change, green skills and sustainability; all linked to STEM subjects. The partnership with Triodos was marked during a workshop at Churchfields Junior School in East London last week. Triodos representatives – Ellie James and Dinkar Suri – met 30 students from Years 3 to 6, all members of the school’s Eco Committee. The group experimented with a ‘Solar Explorer Kit’ and showcased other measures that the school is taking to reduce its carbon footprint.

“With solar panels hidden on the roof, pupils could easily come to school without noticing them. The education work helps to deliver a lasting legacy in the school and community. These pupils will go on to be ambassadors for sustainability, educating their friends and families and leading to further improvements in the school” said James Easter, deputy head at Churchfields Junior School.

As the CBS is governed by the school members themselves, any surplus from solarenergy generated across the community is shared with the schools. Schools pay only for the solar electricity they use at a pre-agreed unit price, lower than their mains electricity price, therefore providing additional security against volatile energy prices. These prices are fixed for the lifetime of the solar panels, at 25 years, rising only with inflation.

So far, the CBS has raised most of its funds via ethical bond offers to individuals, but hopes that this ground-breaking partnership with Triodos Bank unlocks further potential, validating the robustness of the model, and encourages more funders of all sizes to join the mission.

Robert Schrimpff, Co-founder of Solar Options for Schools and voluntary director of the CBS, explained: “There are nearly 25,000 schools in the UK alone, requiring about £2b to install solar on all sensible roofs. But individually, these schools are far too small to attract low-cost project finance. Creating a funding structure that addresses the needs and limitations of each school, the councils and the Department for Education, while meeting the strict requirements of institutional lenders is therefore key to unlocking solar across the educational estate. Getting Triodos onboard is a vital milestone in proving that we have created such a structure. It will enable more funders to support schools with confidence. We can now focus on replicating this structure forchurch-owned schools, larger councils and other community energy groups to enable thousands of schools to go solar.”

Amandine Tetot, head of energy and project finance at Triodos Bank UK, added: “We’re pleased to support an incredible organisation that is not only focused on generating more clean energy, but is doing it in way that educates the next generation about the environment, energy, electricity and photovoltaics through really engaging and hands-on tools. This aligns with our mission as a bank to support projects and organisations that have the power to make a meaningful difference to the environment and peoples’ lives. We hope to be able to do a lot more lending like this in future.”

ViewSonic aims to achieve a 42% reduction in carbon footprint by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Other key initiatives within the company’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy include aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 4, 12, and 15. These goals focus on providing equitable quality education for all, ensuring responsible product life cycles, and promoting the restorative management of ecosystems.

“We believe that technological advancement and environmental stewardship can and must go hand in hand.” said Clifford Chen, General Manager of the Presentation Group at ViewSonic. ” As a leader in the Interactive Display market, this represents a pivotal step towards a more sustainable and responsible future in the technology sector. It’s a testament to our unwavering dedication to environmental and social responsibility.”

In the pursuit of reducing environmental impact, ViewSonic’s series of ViewBoard interactive displays are designed with recycled materials and incorporate energy-saving features. The Carbon Footprint of ViewBoards has fallen by up to 24.43% compared to the previous generation. These interactive displays are registered with EPEAT® and certified by ENERGY STAR® 8.0, signifying that the devices meet high environmental performance criteria for product longevity, circular design, and energy efficiency. Each ViewBoard also comes with a comprehensive report detailing its carbon emissions and overall environmental footprint.

Energy Conservation
Engineered to minimize power consumption without compromising performance, our interactive displays feature various modes designed to reduce carbon footprint. In Energy-Saving Mode, the device automatically powers down when no signal is received for a specific amount of time. After an hour of inactivity, it enters Stand-By Mode through an Eco-mode setting. For scheduled poweron-and-offs, users can customize their preferred times using Manager Advanced. To access more information about the overall power consumption of our devices and for more precise savings, users can utilize ViewSonic’s Energy Savings Calculator.

Product Longevity
Prioritizing longevity and serviceability, ViewBoards are designed with a modular and upgradable framework, enabling easy component replacement, and accommodating technological advancements without the need to discard the entire unit. For instance, users can enhance their interactive displays by incorporating a slot-in PC to extend the product lifecycle or accessorize with sensors to reduce overall power consumption.

This forward-thinking approach not only extends the product lifecycle but also fosters a circular economy by encouraging the reuse and repurposing of materials. Through the Recycle and Disposal Program, which allows users to return obsolete devices directly to ViewSonic, we responsibly collect, recycle, and dispose of these devices, minimizing environmental harm and maximizing the reusability of materials for newer models.

Social Impact
ViewSonic will participate in various technology tradeshows, including BETT 2024 in London, United Kingdom, from January 24th to 26th, 2024, and ISE 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, from January 30th to February 2nd. The aim is to raise awareness about sustainable technology in educational institutions and corporate environments. Through this participation, the company hopes to actively engage with these sectors to encourage the adoption of devices that are environmentally conscious, promoting a positive impact on the planet.

For more information about ViewSonic’s ethos on sustainability, please visit ViewSonic ESG website.

www.viewsonic.com

As part of STEM week, Brackenfield invited guest speakers from prestigious brands such as Maserati and BMW – who brought with them a selection of electric and hybrid vehicles – alongside a leading manufacturing representative, to talk to the children about what it means to work in the science, technology and engineering sectors.

Sustainability is one of the school’s core values and there is a strong commitment within the school’s curriculum and wider community to achieving success in this important area. Visitors were asked to discuss and explain how a dedication to preserving and protecting the environment was a key part of their industries in 2023.

Headmaster at Brackenfield School, Joe Masterson, said: “It was a pleasure to see our children light up with excitement during STEM week, as we brought their learning to life with examples of sustainability in action. The electric vehicles prompted lots of questions, discussions and ideas, as did the variety of STEM talks from our esteemed guests such as Erika Hudson from Wilson Power Solutions and Dr Smith, an experienced GP who presented a talk to our pupils.

“STEM subjects are a vital part of our curriculum and we are thrilled to have so many future engineers, scientists and mathematicians in the making at Brackenfield. The children are very invested in our zero-carbon promise and learning about the ‘bigger picture’ has really helped them understand how small actions can have an impact for the future of our planet.”

Later in the week, the activities shifted from science to maths, with Year 6 visiting Maths City in Leeds, finishing off the week with a STEM dress-up day for the whole school – with children showcasing numerous impressive costumes, from doctors to scientists.

A Year 6 pupil said: “I have loved this week’s activities, I particularly enjoyed visiting Maths City. Maths is my favourite subject at school, so this was such a cool visit for me and my friends. This whole week has been super interesting, we have learnt a lot about the environment and what we can do to help keep our planet clean.”

Mr Masterson added: “We feel it’s really important that children are given the opportunity to have grown-up conversations about our planet and the important role we all play in supporting its future. We are currently teaching the next generation, so the Brackenfield team do all we can to encourage positive habits that can lead to a greener and cleaner world.”

Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School, which is part of the Romero Catholic Academy, welcomed sustainability experts from Severn Trent, Coventry City Council, as well as Cllr Kevin Maton in one of his first appearances as Lord Mayor of Coventry, for Romero Catholic Academy’s inaugural Eco Conference.

The day, which is set to be an annual academy-wide forum to address climate change and how to save the planet, was organised after students at Corpus Christi wrote to the senior leadership team at Romero Catholic Academy to ask what they are doing in response to the challenges raised at COP26 in Glasgow last year.

The conference began with an address from Cllr Maton and featured talks from Bret Willers, Head of Climate Change and Sustainability at Coventry City Council, who ran through the origins of climate change and what we can do to reduce our impact on the planet, and Ricky Dallow, Commonwealth Forest Delivery Manager at Severn Trent, who introduced Corpus Christi’s Tiny Forest to visitors from across the Romero Academy.

Corpus Christi’s Tiny Forest is one of 72 sites planted across the Midlands in celebration of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. As Birmingham 2022’s Official Nature & Carbon Neutral Supporter, Severn Trent, with support from local communities and environmental charity Earthwatch Europe, has created the tennis-court-sized forests across its region this year, one for each of the nations and territories competing in the Games.

Each Tiny Forest is made up of native tree species that are threatened by deforestation across the globe to raise awareness of the importance of protecting nature. A total of 600 trees were planted at the Corpus Christi school on Langbank Avenue, including including Oak, Cherry and Lime.

Hannah Thompson, Trainee Year 6 Teacher at Corpus Christi, said: “I’m very passionate about the environment and I was delighted to be asked by the senior leadership team at Romero to coordinate the event. It was amazing to bring so many interested parties together and we appreciate the support from all concerned.

“In response to COP26 and the children who raised concerns about the environment, we created a committee made up of staff from the Academy who have been instrumental in making our first Eco Conference a reality.

“We’ve had some incredible guest speakers here today and some enthusiastic responses from the children.

“We hope that this can be an annual event and that each year we raise the bar for environmental awareness across the Romero Academy to encourage real change.”

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said: “I’m really pleased that these young students are so interested in what they can do to address climate change.

“It’s a hot topic for us all and one that really matters to this generation. Coventry is leading the green industrial revolution and projects like Coventry Very Light Rail, all electric bus city and our ambition to install more on street electric charge points shows what ambition we have to cut carbon emissions.

“Also this ground breaking innovations will lead to the jobs of the future so I hope the students were also inspire to think about how they could play their part in positive change in the future too.”

Ricky Dallow, Commonwealth Forest Delivery Manager at Severn Trent, said: “As a company that takes care of one of life’s essentials, we’re really passionate about making a positive impact on the communities and the environment where we live and work and these Tiny Forests are going to be a real asset to the Midlands.

“These Tiny Forests will they help to deliver a lasting legacy for the Games and create inspiring outdoor classrooms allowing children to learn first-hand about nature and the environment.”

For more information visit romeromac.com

Let’s Go Zero is the national campaign uniting teachers, pupils, parents and their schools as they all work together to be zero carbon by 2030. Every school that signs up is pledging to work towards a more sustainable future while calling for much-needed government support to help all schools reach their zero carbon goals.

Targets across schools were set to encourage a creative approach towards helping the environment, these targets were set way before the energy price hikes and increases in the cost of living communities have experienced in the last 12 months.

There have been some great examples across the Trust of the types of work being done within schools and the community including meat-free Mondays, litter picking, foodbanks, “Energy Saving Champions”, gardening clubs and recycling.

Helen Rowland, Chief Executive Officer at Focus-Trust, said: “The Lets Go Zero campaign has been amazing in supporting the continuation of our sustainability efforts Trust wide.

“By taking lots of small steps towards being more environmentally friendly, our schools are responding to our children’s demand that we protect our planet and lead the way in our communities.

“We are incredibly proud of all the work children are doing across the schools, all whilst learning about sustainability on the way.”

Focus-Trust is a charitable primary schools trust which is based in the North West of England and West Yorkshire with a vision of providing ‘great schools at the heart of our communities’ where children thrive, achieve and succeed.