Centrica has announced the development of a new £35m training academy and energy transition research laboratory in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.
Opening in May 2026, Centrica Energy Park will see thousands of engineers trained each year in the skills necessary to drive the energy transition, including heat pumps, EV chargers, solar panels and battery storage.
Centrica, owner of British Gas, Hive, and Bord Gais Energy sees the academy as a key investment in the skills of its 7,000-strong engineer workforce and in the creation of new green jobs in the UK and Ireland.
The academy will have a full size “eco-house” to demonstrate how all of the skills and capabilities of Centrica’s workforce come together to deliver the home of the future.
Additionally, the academy will be home to the following research laboratories:
- Net Zero Lab - This facility will be used to test existing and emerging Net Zero Energy & Heating Technologies.
- Diagnostic & Innovation Lab - This multi-purpose lab provides business support to British Gas’ engineers and develops bespoke tools and equipment.
- Smart Testing Lab – The Smart Testing Lab will provide a controlled environment to develop, test and support new and existing smart metering technologies.
- Centrica Business Solutions Controls Lab – This lab will be used to develop and test controls systems for commercial and industrial energy and heating solutions.
- Hive Lab – The Hive Lab is set to support the development, testing and quality assurance of new and existing Hive Home products, including EV Chargers.
Chris O’Shea, Chief Executive of Centrica, said:
“Creating the well paid, unionised jobs needed to drive the energy transition is one of the biggest tasks facing the energy industry today. Our state of the art facility in Lutterworth will set a new benchmark for industry training, providing our engineers with the skills and confidence to deliver the first-class service our customers rightly expect and with more engineers trained in green skills, our energy transition will be more achievable.
“We already have four award winning academies in Dartford, Hamilton, Leicester and Thatcham and since 2021, we’ve welcomed over 1,700 new apprentices. We’re committed to hiring a new apprentice for every day of this decade and our new academy will help us meet that ambition whilst also supporting the drive to diversify the UK’s engineering workforce, and our research labs will drive the innovation necessary to make sure we deliver a just transition which leaves no-one behind.”
Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald, said:
“The clean energy economy is sparking a boom in demand for skills across the UK – with trained engineers particularly in demand – and for the first time we have published a comprehensive national plan to train up the next generation of clean energy workers.
“To deliver this we need to work across government and industry, and Centrica’s new training facility will help support new jobs and equip thousands of engineers with the skills they need to help deliver our clean energy mission.”
Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire, said:
“I am really pleased to welcome Centrica’s groundbreaking £35m Net Zero Training Academy to Lutterworth. This is all about developing the relevant skills of the future and fostering innovation. This state-of-the-art facility will empower thousands of engineers with essential green skills. It’s a great example of industry leading the way in sustainable innovation right here in South Leicestershire.”
Image courtesy of Centrica
