- The CCUS sector is set to support tens of thousands of skilled jobs in engineering, construction and operations.
- Across the UK’s industrial heartlands, the companies investing in and deploying CCUS are also investing in local skills programmes and the next generation of talent.
- A pipeline of CCUS projects and collaboration between the Government, employers, and training providers is vital to scale up apprenticeships and secure the workforce for the low-carbon transition.
As the UK marks National Apprenticeship Week, the carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) sector is showcasing how apprenticeships are vital to delivering a critical industry, creating local jobs and boosting economic growth.
CCUS is helping UK industries such as cement, refining, and chemicals cut emissions while maintaining production of essential products we all use every day. It is also supporting the development of low-carbon products and delivering reliable power generation. By combining practical training with real-world experience, apprenticeships are building the skilled workforce needed for the low-carbon transition.
However, success depends on addressing skills gaps, an ageing workforce, and training capacity, alongside a strong pipeline of CCUS projects across the UK’s industrial heartlands. Getting this right is essential for scaling CCUS.
The East Coast Cluster (ECC) is already delivering results. NZT Power – the world’s first commercial-scale gas-fired power station with carbon capture and storage – is supporting 175 young people into clean energy careers. The project is investing £1m in local skills programmes, while creating hundreds of jobs in construction and engineering.
Over 75 apprentices are already working on sites connecting to HyNet, with more opportunities to come during construction. The cluster recently featured apprentices from companies leading the sector in a social media careers campaign, inspiring over 300,000 young people to engage in low-carbon skills.
In addition, Encyclis’s Protos ERF plant – the UK’s first full-scale carbon capture facility linked to an Energy from Waste (EfW) in HyNet – has welcomed four apprentices, combining college study with hands-on experience to develop the next generation of clean-energy talent. They will join a workforce of almost 80 people working across the two facilities when fully operational.
CATCH, which will become a world-leading apprenticeship training base in the Humber if projects like Viking CCS and ECC expansion are deployed, recently took apprentices to No. 10 Downing Street for a National Apprenticeship Week reception. They showcased how CCUS careers are creating opportunities for young people and supporting the UK’s low-carbon future.
Emily Hasthorpe, Process Operations Apprentice, said: 'During my first year at CATCH, I wrote to the Prime Minister to invite him to visit our site, however I was instead honoured to be invited to Number 10 for National Apprenticeship Week. This provided a valuable opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, engage with representatives from a range of trades and companies, and raise awareness of my training provider, CATCH. I am extremely grateful to CATCH for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity it has been amazing!'
With major CCUS clusters developing in regions including the North East, North West, Humber, Scotland and South Wales, apprenticeships offer a powerful opportunity to support regional growth. Deploying key projects will also give young people the choice of building their careers in the areas they grew up in, keeping talent in these regions, and supporting long-term careers in areas with strong industrial heritage.
As Nathan McGinley, a civil engineer apprentice at Balfour Beatty currently working on NZT Power, recently stated: 'Working on the NZT Power project has shown me just how important apprenticeships are to delivering the UK’s low carbon future. Being part of a world first project so close to home means a huge amount to me and it is creating real opportunities for people in Teesside while building the skills we will need for the years ahead. Through my apprenticeship, I am gaining hands on experience, learning from experienced engineers and contributing to something that will make a genuine difference. Projects like this prove that young people do not have to leave their communities to build meaningful, future proof careers.'
The sector draws on skills from not only oil and gas, but also power, chemicals, construction, and manufacturing, while creating demand for new roles in carbon capture, transport and storage. Apprenticeships are helping workers reskill and giving young people a route into future-proof careers.
Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, said: 'Apprenticeships are essential to making carbon capture a success. The UK already has strong engineering skills, but we need clear career paths, investment in training, and a reliable project pipeline. If we get this right, we can keep jobs and skills in the UK, create good local jobs, and lead the low-carbon transition.'
Employers across the sector are already working with training providers, colleges and universities to develop apprenticeship pathways. These programmes combine on-the-job experience with formal learning, ensuring apprentices graduate with skills aligned to real industry needs.
To meet the growing demand for skilled workers, the sector must scale up apprenticeships, ensure there are enough trainers and mentors, and raise awareness of CCUS careers.
Source: CCSA (Carbon Capture and Storage Association)
