South Bank Colleges has been named as a Clean Energy Technical Excellence College (TEC), recognising the college’s growing role in helping develop the skilled workforce needed for the UK’s clean energy future.

The designation is part of a national drive to strengthen technical education in sectors that are vital to the country’s future economy. For South Bank Colleges, it is also a major opportunity to build further on the college’s specialist green skills offer in London, helping more learners gain the skills they need to move into rewarding careers while supporting the capital’s fast-growing demand for clean energy expertise.

To mark the announcement, Chris McDonald, Minister for Industry, visited the college’s Green Skills Centre at London South Bank Technical College in Nine Elms on Monday 13 April, where he met staff and students and saw first-hand how practical, employer-informed training is preparing learners for careers in the clean energy sector.

During the visit, the Minister toured specialist facilities and spoke to students about what they were working on, why they had chosen their courses, and how the skills they are learning could shape their future careers. The visit highlighted how colleges such as South Bank Colleges are helping turn national ambitions for clean growth into real local opportunities for learners, employers and communities.

As a Clean Energy TEC, South Bank Colleges will support thousands of learners to develop the skills needed for careers in areas such as retrofit, low-carbon heating, heat networks, renewable energy systems and electrical engineering. These are the technical skills that will help decarbonise homes, buildings and infrastructure, and they are in growing demand across London and the wider UK.

South Bank Colleges already has a strong foundation on which to build. Since opening its GLA-funded Nine Elms campus in 2023, London South Bank Technical College has rapidly established itself as a specialist centre for clean energy skills, particularly in heat pumps and heating systems. Clean energy content is embedded across a wide range of courses, from entry-level programmes through to advanced technical qualifications and apprenticeships.

This progression pathway is a key strength. Learners are able to move from foundational study through to higher-level skills, creating clear routes into employment and long-term careers. The curriculum is shaped by close partnerships with employers including Kensa, Hemiko, Quantum and the Society of Public Health Engineers, ensuring that training reflects current industry practice and emerging technologies.

The new TEC designation will allow South Bank Colleges to expand this work further. Plans include developing specialist facilities, strengthening employer engagement, supporting staff development and building a coordinated network of partners across London to increase capacity and raise the quality of clean energy training.

London faces a significant and growing demand for skilled workers in clean energy and retrofit. South Bank Colleges is well placed to help meet this demand while contributing to a nationally important skills agenda. By aligning education with industry need, the college is helping ensure that investment in clean energy infrastructure translates into real jobs and career opportunities.

Fiona Morey OBE, Executive Principal of South Bank Colleges, said, “We are delighted that South Bank Colleges has been recognised as a Clean Energy Technical Excellence College. This is a major opportunity to expand high-quality training in green skills, support more learners into rewarding careers and help meet the growing demand for a skilled clean energy workforce in London and beyond.”

Industry Minister Chris McDonald added, “Advanced manufacturing sector is a vital engine of the UK economy. Through our Modern Industrial Strategy, we’re backing its strengths and investing in the skills that will keep Britain competitive on the global stage. Our new Technical Excellence Colleges will train the next generation of engineers and manufacturers, giving local people clear routes into well paid jobs and ensuring businesses have the skilled workforce they need to grow. This is about supporting local jobs and building the talent Britain needs for the industries of the future.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband noted, “We are delivering a clean energy jobs boom that will create 20,000 new good industrial jobs in London by 2030. London South Bank Technical College will give young people in London the life-long skills they need to step into Britain’s fast-expanding clean energy sector. It will help pave the way for a new generation of highly-skilled workers to access well-paid secure jobs in making London’s homes more energy efficient.”

This latest recognition reflects South Bank Colleges’ commitment to combining excellent technical education with real employer need. It is a national endorsement of the work already underway in Nine Elms, and a strong vote of confidence in the role the college can play in helping London and the UK build the skilled workforce needed for a cleaner, greener future.