Q&A Another vital skill is fusion welding. Danish company Logstor supplies the preinsulated pipes to most groundworks projects in the world, and these pipes will form the backbone of the citys new energy infrastructure. However, specialist welding training is needed to work on these and only a small number of people have this skill. The college has already sent two people to Denmark to receive specialist training. What else is Stoke-on-Trent College doing? The Stoke-on-Trent district heating scheme is boosting opportunities for young people Ryan Johnson Hot prospects Ryan Johnson, Stoke-on-Trent College campus director, discusses the citys major district heat network project that is tapping into local resources A multi-million pound district heating network under construction in Stoke-on-Trent is not only bringing businesses and homes cleaner, greener geothermal energy, sourced from under the city, but it is also tapping into another local resource young people. The development of the low carbon city-wide network is offering young engineers from Stoke-on-Trent Colleges Urban Heat Academy the opportunity to learn the latest industry skills in this new area of low carbon construction technology. The academy is working with employers involved in the design, installation, management and maintenance of the project to supply apprenticeships and work-related training. Ryan Johnson, campus director at Stoke-on-Trent College, is keen to get the message across to local people and the rest of the UK that the city is leading the way in developing greener energy systems and the opportunities this presents for young people to get involved in the sector. What is signicant about this district heat network? Stoke-on-Trent is one of the first cities in the UK to install a new district heat network geothermal heating system. More than 18km of pipe will be laid to source water heated naturally by the earth from as far as 3km underground. The first pipes were laid in the university quarter last September, with Vital Energi the main contractor for the network. Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the various partners in the project have worked to ensure the city becomes one of the very first in the UK to secure government funding for the 50m district heat network one of the key components in an overall investment of 500m in a smart energy system in Stoke over the next six to seven years. Not only will this reduce carbon emissions and cut energy prices for people locally, it will create major employment opportunities. What skills shortages have been identied? A huge number of skills are essential to construction operations from planning, and delivery to evaluation. The Stoke-on-Trent College works closely with employers to identify the future skills that will be needed and where the biggest shortages are; key areas include groundworks, project planning, site management and surveying. Stoke-on-Trent Colleges new Urban Heat Academy, funded by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, is training people on the design, supply and installation of the district heat network. The first of its kind in the UK, the academy will teach a huge range of skills, including building services, engineering, welding, plumbing, groundworks, highways maintenance, and heating and ventilation. The college has teamed up with highly experienced Scandinavian professionals who are pioneers in district energy. These experts are passing on their skills and experience to college lecturers and teaching staff, so they can train a whole generation in the skills needed to design, supply and maintain the new geothermal energy networks. What opportunities will be available for students? Graduates from the Urban Heat Academy will not only have the skills to work on the citys district heat network, but many other doors will open for them. As more cities sign up to this new way of delivering energy, demand for these skills will increase. With district heat networks set to be a key long-term development in the UKs energy industry over the next 15-20 years, job prospects really are heating up for local young people, as well as for adults looking for opportunities to upskill or retrain. How important are district heat networks for the UK? When you look at the district heat network, its part of a much bigger picture. Reducing the UKs carbon footprint is high on the governments agenda, and there are a number of projects aimed at reducing emissions and saving energy. This is the future of construction. RYAN JOHNSON is campus director at Stoke-on-Trent College www.cibsejournal.com November 2019 97 CIBSE Nov19 pp97 Q&A.indd 97 25/10/2019 16:05