Gas has been a hot topic recently. The government plans to phase out gas supplies to new homes by 2035 and to be gas-free by 2050. So what does this mean for gas engineers? With an ageing industry, is there a shortage of gas engineers in the UK?

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

The role of the climate change act is to set targets to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from the 1990 levels by 2050. A stepping stone towards this is the aim of reducing it by 24% by 2030.

With all this in mind, the CCC (committee on climate change) has made recommendations to stop the installation of natural gas supplies to all new homes built in the UK by 2025 and to completely phase out natural gas supplies by 2050.

In addition to this, the current developments in regards to energy-efficient boilers, boiler installations, and smart upgrades to heating systems – all of which must be installed by qualified engineers – plus the possible future change over from natural gas to hydrogen, the future is certainly bright for those who are looking for a long term career in the UK gas industry. 

Roughly 85% of homes in the UK are currently relying on gas for heating, which is around 25 million homes, so the scale of the change required is immense, even if the UK had the qualified engineers to start from day one, which is why many are calling for an investment in training to be at the heart of the Government’s planning for a greener future. 

Will we still need gas engineers in the future? 

The simple answer is that yes, we will still need gas engineers. Regardless of whether they work on natural gas, hydrogen or heat pumps, we will continue to need qualified, experienced people who can install, maintain, repair and replace the appliances we rely on to keep us warm and clean. 

Around 85% of our homes, approximately 25 million, currently rely on gas. The scale of the changeover is going to be huge, with heavy investment likely to be made to ensure that engineers are properly trained to handle the work required. 

However, according to Gas Safe, there is already a shortage of gas engineers in the UK. Half of the engineers currently working are over the age of 55, in the next 10 years, the majority will have retired. 

Training to become a qualified gas engineer

Here at The Skills Centre, you can become a fully qualified gas engineer through our tailored courses that work around you and your commitments. 

Our courses are designed for people with little to no previous experience in gas engineering. We guide you from day one right through to becoming a fully qualified gas installer with industry-recognised certifications. Whether you intend to start your own business or find the right employer, our flexible courses will get you there. 

With this course, you will be demonstrating gas safety competence by completing nationally agreed assessments, carried out as out ACS-approved assessment centres. 

The gas engineering qualifications you will receive upon completion are;

• BPEC – Energy Efficiency (Part L)
• ACS – Core Gas Safety
• ACS – Space Heaters – Fires
• ACS – Core Gas Safety
• ACS – Flue Gas Analysers
• ACS – Central Heating Boilers and Water Heaters

Once qualified you will be ready to; 

• Work as a gas engineer running your own business or working for a company.
• Work on domestic properties.
• Work on servicing, installing and maintaining domestic gas appliances.
• Work on new buildings.
• Install and maintain appliances for landlords and tenants.
• Provide an emergency call-out service.

Start your career in gas engineering today

Here at The Skills Centre, we can help you choose the right course for you. We understand that, if you’re changing your career, you will likely need to work alongside your studies. We’ll help you find the right, flexible course for you to become a fully qualified gas engineer. Get in touch with us by clicking here.