How Inspire Education Group are bridging the green skills gap with the launch of Peterborough College’s Centre for Green Technology.
Across the UK, employers are facing a skills shortage as the adoption of green technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps continues apace.
The demand for green skills has never been greater. Until recently, however, training opportunities have been few and far between. But what if there was a state-of-the-art facility where in-demand training was delivered under one roof? Well, now there is – and it’s in Peterborough.
Opened in May 2025, the £13.5 million Centre for Green Technology, located at Peterborough College, is Inspire Education Group’s ambitious, education-led response to the UK’s net zero challenge. Billed as a hub for ‘innovation, collaboration, and skills development’, it has already attracted attention from government ministers, high-profile employers, and the local community.
It all began with a bold vision.
The goal: skills for the green economy
The UK government’s Net Zero Strategy highlights the need for up to 440,000 new green jobs by 2030, while employer demand for green skills grew by 46% in 2024 alone.
Locally, employers across the construction, engineering, and energy sectors were already raising concerns about a lack of skilled people able to install technologies such as solar photovoltaics (PV), air-source heat pumps, and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
Inspire Education Group (IEG) set out to close this skills gap by building a centre dedicated to green skills and sustainable technologies – a centre where students and apprentices can get practical experience with industry-standard equipment.
Embedding sustainability into the curriculum, the centre would also offer employers the chance to retrain and upskill their workforce.
How they did it: building partnerships and facilities
Building the Centre for Green Technology required significant investment from a range of partners. The project was partly funded by Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, with further funding from Peterborough City Council and the Department for Education (DfE). IEG’s contribution to the project was £8.3 million, with £5.5 million from the DFE capital loan scheme and £2.8 million from IEG’s capital reserves.
Construction, led by Clegg Construction with design input from Launchpadd Architects, was completed in 2025, and the building, says IEG, is net-zero ready.
Built with high thermal density concrete – which regulates indoor temperature by storing heat during the day and releasing it slowly at night – the 2,600 sqm, three-storey facility is fitted with solar panels and smart energy systems. It’s equipped with electrical and plumbing workshops, EV bays, renewable energy rigs, and immersive learning spaces, including a Virtalis VR wall.
But it’s the partnerships with industry that give the centre its educational edge.
Rolec EV supplied charging equipment and co-designed training for installers. Worcester Bosch provided heating systems and free continuing professional development (CPD) for staff. And Quantum Group installed air-source heat pumps, solar PV and solar thermal rigs for real-world training.
The result: impactful education
The official opening of the Centre for Green Technology received widespread media recognition, with coverage by the BBC, Peterborough Telegraph, and leading trade outlets. Over 150 guests, including employers, politicians, and industry leaders, attended the launch in May.
Now up and running, the Centre is already having a positive impact.
Its further education students, aged 16 to 19, have direct access to technologies shaping the green economy. Adult learners and apprentices are upskilling through retrofit, renewable energy, and EV infrastructure training. And employers are using the Centre for CPD, helping their teams stay ahead of regulatory and technological change.
Soon, Peterborough and the regions on the city’s doorstep will be benefiting from a pipeline of skilled workers able to meet housing, infrastructure, and sustainability demands.
Ready to learn skills for the future?
The Centre for Green Technology is open to learners of all ages, employers seeking training opportunities, and partners keen to collaborate.
At Peterborough College, the employer engagement team work with over 1,000 organisations with the aim to develop their workforce locally, regionally and nationally.
Find out more here.