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As we reach the end of a year that marked Labour’s first full term back in office and a renewed national push towards decarbonisation, Mark Krull, Director of LCL Awards and Logic4training, reflects on the lessons learnt in 2025. While progress has been made, we must not stop the momentum – for the UK’s journey to net zero and the success of our sector.
The UK’s transition to net zero has reached a critical turning point. Labour’s first year in government has been marked by an ambitious mix of policy reform, public investment and renewed focus on skills, but also by scrutiny of whether plans will deliver in practice.
The latest House of Commons Library report shows that the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions fell 413.7 million tonnes – a 50% reduction since 1990. While a significant milestone to celebrate, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) warns that only 61% of the reductions needed by 2030 are backed by credible plans, meaning the rest (almost two-fifths) remain uncertain or with no clear action.
To close the ‘unplanned’ gap, we need to learn from what’s been and look to the future, focusing on well-thought-out policy backed up by a suitably skilled workforce, without whom net zero ambitions will fall flat.
As we come to the close of 2025, here are five lessons this year taught us.
The UK’s drive towards net zero is creating opportunity but also exposing a critical shortage of qualified people to deliver it. Labour’s Warm Homes Plan and Clean Energy Mission have mobilised billions in investment, yet the skills gap remains one of the biggest barriers to meeting installation targets.
In response, 2025 saw the launch of Skills England’s regional green hubs, designed to connect training providers with employers and local authorities – a welcome step towards coordinated workforce planning. The CCC has also called for a national green skills strategy, noting that more than 80% of remaining emissions cuts must come from labour-intensive sectors such as buildings, heat and industry.
Bridging that gap means making retraining and upskilling far more accessible. Electricians, plumbers and heating engineers already have the foundation skills the transition depends on; what’s needed is consistent funding, flexible learning pathways and clear messaging that low-carbon technologies are not niche – they’re the future of the trade.
At the same time, apprentices and new entrants must not lose sight of the basics. A solid grounding in gas engineering remains essential, given that gas is still the dominant heating fuel in the UK. These core skills give engineers the versatility to work across both conventional and low-carbon systems, helping businesses stay resilient and ready to meet the changing consumer demands as the energy transition gathers pace.
Since 1990, most emissions cuts have been achieved by the solar sector, and the publication of the Solar Roadmap in early 2025 reaffirms the central role solar plays in decarbonising the UK’s power network with a clear goal – 70 GW of installed capacity by 2035.
Easier planning for rooftop and agricultural installations, faster grid connection reforms and the spread of co-located battery storage have unleashed new investment. Commercial rooftops, schools and carports are turning unused surfaces into mini power stations. For households, high electricity prices and smart tariffs are making solar plus storage a practical energy security solution.
Training and accreditation underpin this growth. The Solar Roadmap’s focus on consumer protection and installer competence has raised the bar across the industry. By aligning qualification standards with these expectations, we can ensure rapid expansion doesn’t compromise quality.
The revision of the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, unveiled in October 2025 after a High Court ruling, will test how well the Solar Roadmap dovetails with the wider decarbonisation strategy. Keeping policy coherence will be vital to sustain investor and workforce confidence.
After years of delay, the Future Homes Standard (FHS) is hopefully expected to be published in autumn 2025 – and not a moment too soon. By 2028, all new homes must be ‘net zero ready’, with high fabric efficiency and low-carbon heating such as heat pumps or heat networks.
The FHS is not just another policy milestone; it’s a long-overdue correction. In 2015, the previous government scrapped the zero carbon homes regulations, a move that allowed developers to build cheaper, less efficient properties. Around 1.5 million homes have since been constructed to such poor standards that many will now need retrofitting at an estimated £20,000 per property. The FHS aims to end that short-termism for good.
For housebuilders, the new rules bring both challenge and clarity. Labour has so far held firm on key requirements, including mandatory solar panels on new homes, but debates continue over heat pumps, water efficiency, wood-burning stoves and whether to leave the door open to hydrogen. Despite industry pressure to dilute standards, the government insists the next generation of homes must be fit for a net zero future.
If successful, the FHS will mark the end of ‘build cheap, fix later’ – replacing it with quality, efficiency and long-term savings for homeowners. The lesson is clear: the homes we build today will decide how much catching up we have to do tomorrow.
One year in, we’ve seen more coherence in climate policy than in the previous decade, sticking to the plan is now essential for ongoing confidence from the market. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has delivered clearer messaging and greater policy consistency than we’ve had in years.
Key developments in 2025 included:
These moves have rebuilt some of the trust lost through years of mixed signals, a foundation from which, I hope, investors, developers and training bodies can now plan with greater confidence.
However, stability must endure beyond a single parliamentary term. Long-term delivery depends on cross-party consensus and continuous communication between government, industry and education. The net zero mission is a marathon, not a sprint – and it cannot afford another cycle of political U-turns.
With most of the ‘easy’ emissions reductions in power generation already achieved, future progress depends on innovation in the tougher sectors. Digital tools are now central to that effort.
AI-driven design software is helping installers model optimal heat pump systems, improving accuracy and cutting waste. Many training providers now blend hands-on with simulation-based learning that lets trainees practise complex installations virtually before stepping onto site, boosting both safety and confidence.
Smart monitoring platforms give engineers real-time performance insights, allowing fine-tuning and fault detection that enhance consumer trust. As homes and businesses add battery storage and EV charging, the ability to integrate and manage these assets digitally will define the next generation of installers.
Beyond buildings, the CCC highlights the need for business models to support engineered carbon-removal technologies. This is a glimpse of the next frontier and one that will create fresh demand for advanced technical and data skills.
Technology is no longer an optional extra; it’s the bridge between policy targets and tangible performance.
Looking ahead
While it might seem like the UK’s journey to net zero has entered a new phase, we are not out of the woods yet. Emissions are falling, renewables are scaling, and skills infrastructure is catching up, but progress is uneven. The Commons report reminds us that credibility and capability must go hand in hand.
Commitment to equipping the workforce will make net zero a reality – engineers who can design, install and maintain the technologies powering Britain’s clean energy future.
If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that the race to net zero has moved beyond party promises; it’s about delivery. And delivery depends on skilled people, stable policy and smart technology working together for the long term.
This article appeared in Electrotechnical News November/December 2025 edition – read it here
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