The UK’s first small modular reactors (SMRs) will be built at Wylfa in north Wales, marking the return of nuclear power to the site for the first time since 2015. Led by Rolls-Royce SMR as part of a £2.5bn programme, the three reactors will deliver a combined 1.4 GW of clean electricity—enough to power around three million homes—and form a key part of the UK’s long-term energy strategy.

The UK has committed to creating 400,000 new clean-energy jobs by 2030 through its Clean Energy Jobs Plan, supported by over £100m in engineering skills investment and more than £50bn in private sector funding since 2024. The plan aims to build a strong national talent pipeline across renewables, CCUS, heat pumps, energy storage and other low-carbon technologies, with priority roles including electricians, plumbers, heating engineers, welders and project managers. Around 440,000 people already work in the sector, and demand is expected to grow sharply across regions such as Scotland, the east of England and the northwest. New initiatives include technical excellence colleges, expanded T-Level and Level 4–5 engineering provision, and targeted support to help oil and gas workers, veterans and other groups transition into clean-energy careers. The government says the programme will deliver well-paid, long-term roles while strengthening the UK’s position in the global green economy.

TESP, City & Guilds and EAL are introducing a new qualification pathway to replace the current Level 3 NVQs in Electrotechnical Installation and Maintenance. Launching May 2026, the new route ensures parity, modernised content, and consistent assessment across all industry training routes.

Octopus Energy is supporting vulnerable households this winter through its Octo Assist fund, which provides free electric blankets, bill grants, and other financial help, with over 93,000 blankets already distributed and a £40 million support fund helping more than 100,000 customers.

The company also offers a range of practical initiatives, from energy-saving home visits and heat-loss cameras to debt-matching payments, pensioner credits, and free electricity sessions, all aimed at helping people stay warm and reduce their energy costs.

The UK government has recently unveiled a major package of vocational reform measures that signal a significant shift in how skills, apprenticeships and training are organised, particularly in the construction and electrical trades. For learners aspiring to become electricians, this means a real moment of opportunity.

UK charge point operators are struggling to meet strict new Government rules on reliability and customer support, with fines of up to £10,000 per unit at stake. Research by EV charging platform Monta shows only 4% of operators achieve uptime close to the 99% benchmark, while most remain above 95% but face challenges bridging the gap. A lack of real-time performance data is a key barrier, with just 17% able to monitor uptime and charge success live. Monta warns that without better diagnostics and a phased transition, the regulations could slow investment and progress in the UK’s EV rollout.

Two-thirds of UK homeowners plan to invest in green home upgrades over the next decade, with a record one in four aiming to start within the next year, according to NatWest’s Greener Homes Attitude Tracker. EV chargers, solar panels, triple glazing and heat pumps top the list of planned improvements, but cost remains the biggest barrier, cited by 74% of households, alongside debt concerns, disruption from installation and limited finance options. The survey also highlights an income divide, with higher-earning households far more likely to commit to long-term upgrades.

New NICEIC research reveals that interactions between homeowners and tradespeople are becoming more transactional, with younger generations far less likely to offer traditional courtesies. While 81% of over-55s would make a tradesperson a cup of tea, just 45% of 25–34-year-olds said the same, and only a third would allow casual conversation. The study also highlights concerns around wellbeing, with 82% of tradespeople reporting stress or mental health challenges, and rising levels of mistrust as more households monitor work closely or via security cameras.

UK Power Networks, working with SGN, NESO and Guidehouse, has launched Indus 2.0, a research project designed to reveal how UK industry consumes energy and what this means for the transition to Net Zero. The initiative will create the first secure data-sharing platform between electricity and gas networks, helping operators forecast demand more accurately, plan smarter infrastructure and support decarbonisation across both large industrial clusters and smaller, dispersed sites.

London’s riverfront is set to welcome a striking new addition. Opening next month, the 1.5-acre Bazalgette Embankment at Blackfriars will offer a landscaped public space that fuses engineering, art, and greenery. Created as part of the £4.5 billion Thames Tideway “super-sewer” project, this innovative riverside park sits above one of the most ambitious infrastructure schemes in the capital’s history. Designed to intercept millions of tonnes of sewage from entering the Thames each year, the tunnel beneath has transformed environmental protection for the river. Above ground, the embankment provides new seating, planting, and views across the water, giving Londoners a space that is both beautiful and born from groundbreaking engineering.

Trade workers in Scotland, including joiners, labourers, painters, electricians, and other skilled workers, have agreed to a new two-year pay deal with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). The agreement, which affects those working on local government projects and outsourced maintenance of council buildings and housing, includes several financial benefits.

New insights from B&Q show that 39% of young tradespeople were drawn to the profession because of its strong career prospects. Additionally, 30% view it as a way to harness their entrepreneurial drive and possibly start their own business. This shift reflects a new generation of tradespeople who see their work not just as a craft, but as an exciting and sustainable business opportunity.

Elon Musk's Tesla has applied to the UK's energy regulator, Ofgem, for a licence to supply electricity to homes and businesses across England, Scotland, and Wales. If approved, Tesla Electric could begin operations as early as 2026, competing with established providers like British Gas and Octopus Energy.

The demand for skilled workers in the construction sector is rapidly increasing. Recent insights from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) reveal that an estimated 140,000 additional construction workers will be needed annually over the next five years to meet the growing need for home retrofitting and energy efficiency improvements.