Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change takes part in Renewable Energy Training

The Rt Hon Edward Davey MP, Member of Parliament for Kingston and Surbiton and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, visited The Power Centre at Carshalton College on Friday 19th July to get a taste of industry recognised renewable energy training and to experience first-hand from our students how they were being prepared for a bright future in the renewable energy sector.   He was also joined by Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington.

Edward Davey and Tom Brake had the opportunity to sit in with learners on a Solar Photovoltaic (PV) training course and to gain some knowledge on how solar panels work and how they are installed and maintained by fully qualified engineers.  

A number of Liberal Democrat MPs spent Friday visiting local apprentices to highlight the work which the Liberal Democrats in government are doing to create more private sector jobs and apprenticeships.  Since the coalition government was formed in 2010 over a million new private sector jobs have been created.  Now we are looking to create a million more.

Commenting on his visit, Edward Davey said, "The Power Centre does fantastic work training apprentices and upskilling workers to provide services across a number of different forms of energy. It was fantastic to be able to take the opportunity to sit in on a lesson about installing solar panels and to be able to see, first hand, the learning process behind this.  I am proud of the work the coalition government is doing to expand Green Jobs and I am delighted that a partnership which includes Kingston College is leading the way in this."

Tom Brake said:

"I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to sit down with students to learn the ins and outs of one of the most promising forms of renewable energy - Solar PV.  At the end of the session, I almost felt qualified to install solar PV panels myself! "

Both ministers were welcomed to the Centre by Peter Mayhew-Smith, Principal of Carshalton and Kingston College. An interview and photo opportunity took place with Building magazine for their feature on the Green Deal.

The Power Assessment  and Training Centre, a partnership between Carshalton and Kingston Colleges, provides industry responsive gas, plumbing, electrical, construction and renewable energy courses, ensuring that employers across the building services engineering, construction and low carbon energy sectors have the skills required to increase productivity and take advantage of emerging business opportunities.

The Power Centre, as part of Carshalton College, is undergoing extensive construction and re-modelling to incorporate exciting new plans for a dedicated Environmental Technologies teaching, demonstration and research facility, allowing access to retrofit and energy efficiency training at craft, technician and professional levels across a range of technologies including solar thermal, heat pumps and insulation.

As a Lead Hub within the National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies network, The Power Centre is currently leading a transformation in the way the UK plans, develops and delivers skills in a wide range of renewable and environmental technologies.