What is Essential Trade Futures?
The UK needs skilled tradespeople more than ever – and thousands of young people need a route into meaningful work.
Essential Trade Futures is an industry pledge initiative from Smart Energy Training, connecting employers and partners with practical ways to support apprenticeship opportunities across essential trades.
Make your pledge today: recruit an apprentice, transfer unused levy, champion the campaign, or start a conversation.
The workforce challenges
Our homes need skilled hands to keep heat, water and power running. But across gas, plumbing, electrical and low-carbon heating, businesses are stretched — not because demand is falling, but because there simply are not enough skilled people coming through.
Experienced engineers are retiring, while an estimated 1.012 million young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) in Jan-March 2026.
The gap won’t close by itself. It starts with employers and industry partners making a pledge.
Every year without action makes the gap harder to close
Across essential trades, employers are facing the same problem: demand is growing, experienced people are retiring, and too few young people are entering the pipeline.
Behind every one of these numbers is a young person who could have a brilliant career in a skilled trade – if someone gives them the chance. That someone is you. That chance is an apprenticeship. And the time to act is now.
Gas engineering
6,500 new entrants needed every year.
The gas utilisation industry needs an estimated 45,700 new people to enter the workforce by 2030.
Source: Energy & Utility Skills report 2024
Plumbing
73,700 plumbers required by 2032.
To keep pace with market demand and replace retiring workers.
Source: CIPHE / UK Trade Skills Index
Electrical
12,000 newly qualified electricians needed each year.
To support demands across electrification, infrastructure and net zero.
Source: ECA
Heat pump/low carbon
At least 4,000 new heat pump installers needed each year.
To help meet the UK government’s 600,000 installations-a-year target by 2028.
Source: Nesta / MCS / HPA
Together we can make a difference
When the whole industry moves together, the impact can be transformational.
Every pledge – whether that’s recruiting an apprentice, transferring unused levy, or simply championing the campaign through your network – adds to a collective force that’s bigger than any individual organisation.
The more of us who commit, the more young people get opportunities. The more young people in training today, the stronger, more resilient and more capable our industry becomes tomorrow. This is how we secure the future – together.
Whatever kind of organisation you are, there’s a place for you in this.
Installers and contractors
You know better than anyone what a good apprentice can become. You’ve probably worked alongside someone who started as an apprentice – maybe you did too. That route into the trade, that chance someone took, made careers possible.
Now it’s your turn to do the same. An apprentice starting today is your future skilled engineer. Apprenticeship funding and support may already be available. We can help you understand what you can access and reduce the admin involved. The hardest part is simply deciding to go for it, but we’ll help you every step of the way.
Grow and future proof your business and make a difference to a young person today – we’ve got a queue of enthusiastic, capable candidates waiting for the right opportunity.
Manufacturers and wholesalers
The installer network you depend on needs fresh talent coming through.
The products you bring to market need skilled hands to install, service and champion them. A stronger, younger workforce means a healthier market – for everyone.
You have reach, relationships and often unspent levy that could fund opportunities right now. Backing this campaign is one of the most practical things you can do for the long-term health of your business and the industry you’re part of.
Housing providers
Your residents need skilled, qualified tradespeople they can rely on for repairs, compliance, comfort and safety. Investing in the next generation of engineers isn’t just good for the industry – it’s good for the communities you serve.
You have reach, relationships and often unspent levy, with the capacity to support smaller contractors in your supply chain to recruit. Your pledge here ripples further than you might think.
Energy and low carbon
Every heat pump target, every retrofit programme, every clean energy commitment your organisation has made will need skilled people on the ground to make it real.
The young people who could deliver that future need a route in today. Energy and low-carbon businesses have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to help shape the workforce the transition depends on. Let’s build it together.
Grow and future proof your business and make a difference to a young person today – we’ve got a queue of enthusiastic, capable candidates waiting for the right opportunity.
Trade bodies
Your voice can turn individual pledges into a movement.
Your members are already feeling the skills shortage. You have the relationships, the reach and the credibility to help turn this campaign into something the whole industry gets behind.
Champion the pledge through your network, encourage your members to commit, and help set the tone for what a responsible, forward-looking industry looks like. This is the kind of collective action trade bodies exist to inspire.
Why we care – Smart Energy Training’s pledge
We got into this industry because apprenticeships change lives. A young person who can find their way into gas, plumbing, electrical or low-carbon energy has a career for life. They have pride in their work, financial security, and skills that will always be needed. Our team is passionate about this as we’ve seen the impact it has on our learners and industry.
Smart Energy Training commits to continuing to grow capacity and opportunity for young people to access high quality trade training, across the UK.
Make your pledge
Be part of something that genuinely matters – to your business, to your industry, and to the young people who deserve a chance.
Tell us what you may be able to support. Your pledge does not need to be final today. Whether you’re ready to recruit, have levy to transfer, can share the campaign, or simply want to explore what’s possible, we’ll help you take the next step.
We’d love to hear from you. We’ll follow up, no pressure, and work with you to make your pledge a reality, and supply you with practical guidance, funding support, welcome pack and everything you need to get started. We’ll keep you updated with progress and invite you to special events.
What happens next?
- We’ll review your pledge.
- We’ll contact you to understand what’s possible.
- We’ll help with practical guidance, funding routes and next steps.
- You’ll receive campaign materials and updates on the impact we’re making together.
Tell us about your pledge
Accreditations
Have a question?
Reach out to our friendly team today.