Doors for future smart opportunities opened

Budding smart meter installers flocked to an open day to get a taste of the training available at a new state-of-the art centre.

The Newcastle-based training centre, which is the first of its kind to open in the north east of England, offers accredited training to those wishing to become smart meter installers. 

It is expected that 400 candidates will be trained each year and new employment for 2,000 engineers over the next five years will be created.

On Tuesday 25 March over 100 potential applicants visited the centre which is run by energy services company, Future Energy Solutions Ltd, to find out more about the training available. 

Electrician David Bolt, 56, is planning to retrain as a smart meter installer. 

David, who lives in Washington and is currently unemployed, said: “This is a great opportunity to retrain and start fitting smart meters. I am a fully qualified electrician and can’t wait to go through the training and work in this exciting industry.”

Visitors toured the centre’s training areas and found out more about smart meters and the proposed roll out to all UK homes taking place between now and 2020.

Tim Cantle-Jones, Managing Director of Future Energy Solutions, said: “This vocational training is very relevant and important at this time, when plans are being put in place to ensure smart meters are installed in every home by 2020. 

"This new centre will support the training of smart meter engineers in the North East, Yorkshire and Scotland.”Smart Meters are a new kind of energy meter which will replace existing ‘dumb’ meters."

Future Energy Solutions will be using smart meters provided by EDMI. Nick Walton, Technical Consultant at EDMI, said: “We are delighted to be working with Future Energy Solutions. The installation process is key to the success of the rollout of smart meters in the UK and as a smart meter manufacturer, we are pleased to see that training will be delivered in facilities such as those offered by Future Energy Solutions."  

Councillor Nick Forbes, Leader of Newcastle City Council said: "I welcome this new business and congratulate them for creating these jobs in Newcastle. Energy bills take up so much of a household’s monthly income, so it can only be a good thing if accurate information enables people to better manage their money. Smart technology has many different applications and, as it becomes more widespread it will play an important role in the future of our cities”.

The training centre is located at Units 30 & 32, Armstrong Industrial Estate, Invincible Drive, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 7HX.