LSBTC named Clean Energy Technical Excellence College
London South Bank Technical College (LSBTC) has been designated a Clean Energy Technical Excellence College (TEC), recognising its leadership in developing the skilled workforce needed to deliver London’s transition to net zero.
One of only five clean energy TECs in the UK, LSBTC, part of South Bank Colleges, has become a strategic hub for clean energy skills in London. Its new status, announced by the government on 14 April, will build on its track record as a leading provider of education and training in low-carbon heating, retrofit, renewable technologies and electrical systems.
The College will lead a London-wide network of partner colleges, employers and public bodies, expanding access to high-quality technical training that aligns directly to labour market demand for cleantech.
Delivering the workforce London needs
London faces urgent skills shortages in heat pump installation, heat networks, retrofit, electrical systems and smart energy technologies as investment in decarbonisation accelerates. As a Clean Energy Technical Excellence College, LSBTC will help address these gaps by:
- Training thousands of learners for clean energy jobs over the next four years
- Expanding apprenticeships and technical pathways into heat pumps, heat networks, solar photovoltaic (PV), electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and retrofit
- Supporting progression from entry level programmes through to higher technical and professional qualifications
- Working with employers to ensure investment in clean energy infrastructure goes directly into local jobs and careers
By 2030, London is expected to need around 19,000 additional workers in clean heat and retrofit roles. LSBTC’s new status strengthens the capital’s ability to meet this demand with a skilled, inclusive and locally trained workforce.
A hub for clean energy excellence
Opened in 2023, LSBTC’s state-of-the-art campus is already home to specialist clean energy facilities, including live air‑ and ground source heat pump systems, renewable energy training bays, solar PV and EV charging infrastructure. Building on this foundation, the College will now develop a dedicated Clean Energy Centre to support specialist teaching, apprenticeships, employer‑led continuing professional development (CPD) and innovation.
The College’s curriculum is designed with long‑standing industry partnerships that include:
- Kensa, the UK’s leading ground source heat pump provider, which has designated LSBTC as its National Training Hub
- Hemiko, a major heat network investor, which uses LSBTC as its preferred training partner for the south-east
- Quantum Group and the Society of Public Health Engineers, supporting curriculum co-design, equipment, CPD and specialist masterclasses.
These partnerships ensure learners gain hands-on experience with the technologies and systems being deployed across London today.
A coordinated London-wide model
As the Clean Energy TEC hub, LSBTC will lead a hub-and-spoke network of further education colleges across the capital, working with institutions to expand capacity, raise quality and reduce fragmentation in clean energy training.
The College will also work closely with London boroughs, the Greater London Authority, employers and sector bodies to align provision with major infrastructure programmes, including heat network expansion and large-scale retrofit of homes and public buildings.
As part of LSBU Group, LSBTC benefits from the capability of London’s only integrated FE‑HE technical education group in the built environment, combining workforce development with applied research and innovation.
Supporting inclusive green growth
Central to the College’s mission is ensuring London’s clean energy transition creates accessible and inclusive career opportunities. Through community outreach, pre-employment training, apprenticeships and progression routes, the TEC will support Londoners from under-represented groups to access sustainable, skilled employment in growing sectors.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “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.”
Craig Hanlon-Smith, Principal, London South Bank Technical College, said: “As London moves towards a greener future, colleges have a vital role to play in developing the skilled workforce that will make that transition possible. South Bank Colleges is proud to be helping train the next generation of clean energy professionals.”
Fiona Morey OBE, Executive Principal, 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.”
Picture shows Industry Minister Chris McDonald visiting LSBTC on Monday 13 April 2026 and meeting some of our apprentices.