Overview of the UK's energy and utilities sector

A move towards renewable energy sources and a greater reliance on digital technology has transformed the UK energy industry, which has resulted in increased demand for graduates with technical skills and an awareness of environmental factors

Key energy industry statistics

According to UK trade association Energy UK:

around 1.48 million people are directly or indirectly employed in the sector
one in 25 jobs in the UK is related to energy
65% of power was generated from low-carbon sources, such as wind, solar, and nuclear, in 2024
£13billion was invested in 2024 to deliver power and energy to 28 million homes and businesses
£100billion is expected to go towards new energy sources over the next decade.

What is the energy and utilities sector?

This broad sector is concerned with producing, distributing, and supplying energy, including fossil fuels and renewable sources. It also includes key public services, such as the provision of water and the treatment of wastewater.

The energy industry primarily focuses on firms extracting, refining or producing energy sources and developing infrastructure.
Utilities companies supply households and businesses with water, electricity, and gas.

You could work for a company involved in:

constructing and managing infrastructure, such as power stations
generating electricity using fossil fuels, nuclear, or renewables
distributing electricity and gas around the national network
buying electricity and gas on the energy market and selling it to consumers
extracting, transporting, and refining oil and gas - see jobs in the oil and gas industry
providing clean water to homes and businesses, and treating wastewater
enforcing industry rules and regulations.

What areas can I work in?

For examples of specific job roles, see energy and utilities jobs.

Who are the main graduate employers?

The largest and best-known energy companies in the UK are the traditional 'big six' suppliers:

Centrica (British Gas)
E.ON UK
EDF Energy
ScottishPower
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).

However, many other recruiters also have graduate openings. Read about the smaller energy suppliers that operate in the UK market.

Examples of other major graduate employers include:

AECOM
AWE
Babcock
BP
Chevron
ExxonMobil
John Wood Group (known as Wood)
National Grid
Shell
TotalEnergies UK.

A growing number of energy firms focus on renewable technologies. If this is your area of interest, search the members of RenewableUK to find relevant organisations.

There are also water companies in the UK, some of which are responsible for sewage treatment, including:

Anglian Water
Scottish Water
Severn Trent Water
South West Water
Thames Water
United Utilities
Welsh Water/Dŵr Cymru
Yorkshire Water.

Discover your local water company at Water UK. You can also visit the water regulator Ofwat (Water Services Regulation Authority) to see the complete map of water companies in England and Wales.

Public sector jobs are available with local authorities and in organisations such as Ofwat and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), which regulates the energy industry.

What qualifications do I need to work in energy and utilities?

There are many opportunities to work in this sector, although most technical roles require an accredited degree from one of the industry's professional bodies or a postgraduate qualification.

For example, you could study the MSc Energy Management at Robert Gordon University (RGU), which has been designed in partnership with the Energy Institute (EI).

Scientific subjects such as physics and chemistry may also prove helpful for entering the energy industry. It's also common to have studied a specific engineering discipline, such as:

Consider the range of engineering courses. To work in nuclear energy, explore nuclear engineering courses.

Any degree subject is usually accepted for commercial marketing, sales, and HR roles. However, business, accounting, or numerical degrees are often preferred for finance and trading jobs. Some employers advertise research posts for those with PhDs.

Search for postgraduate courses in energy studies.

How do I find a job in energy and utilities?

Useful websites for those interested in energy jobs include:

For roles within smaller companies, search specialist recruitment sites such as:

Many large firms offer work experience and summer placements, which are advertised via their websites.

For smaller companies, apply speculatively or search for work experience in the energy and utilities sector.

Search for graduate jobs in energy and utilities.

Where can I find energy graduate schemes?

The leading energy and utilities companies offer structured graduate schemes in functions such as:

Energy graduate schemes are available with:

For graduate programmes in the nuclear industry, consider getting a graduate job in nuclear energy.

What about energy apprenticeships?

If you want to learn on the job while earning a salary, apprenticeships are available with major employers in the energy and utilities sector.

These apprenticeships are typically found in engineering disciplines - see engineering apprenticeships - but also cover a range of other job roles.

Leading recruiters offering energy and utilities apprenticeships include:

BP - foundation and degree apprenticeships in fuels, supply and midstream, trading and shipping, and laboratory technician roles.
EDF Energy - chemistry, cyber security and nuclear engineering apprenticeships at degree level.
E.ON - engineering apprenticeships, including street lighting and offshore wind farm technician apprentice.
National Grid - advanced, higher and degree apprenticeships are available.
RWE - a three-year Level 3 offshore wind turbine technician apprenticeship based at an offshore wind farm.
Severn Trent Water - apprenticeships in roles including utilities engineering technician, quantity surveyor, HR consultant and farming liaison officer.
SSE - offers apprenticeships in electrical, mechanical, fitter, jointer, multi-craft and lines.
United Utilities - on-site and head office programmes range from operating pipes and improving water quality to embracing new technologies and safeguarding the local environment.

Check the websites of major energy firms to find out more. You can also consider whether to go to university or do an apprenticeship.

What's it like working in the energy sector?

Graduates entering the energy and utilities sector can expect:

a median starting salary of £42,000 for graduate roles with leading oil and energy companies in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers, according to High Fliers' The Graduate Market in 2024 report
to work in offices, laboratories, or offshore locations, depending on the role
opportunities to travel and work abroad, especially in the extraction, exploration and nuclear industries
a heavily regulated working environment that requires employees to keep up to date with the latest developments
to be part of a rapidly changing and politically sensitive industry, as new technologies and targets for reducing carbon emissions impact the sector.

What skills do I need to work in energy?

flexibility and a willingness to work outdoors, offshore or overseas
problem-solving and analytical skills to deal with complex technical issues
specific skills and knowledge of increasingly specialised technology
the ability to work in a team and manage projects, budgets and people
communication skills, such as explaining designs or problems to non-technical staff.

What are the energy skills shortages?

Deloitte's 2025 Energy, Resources, and Industrials Industry Outlooks report found that continuing to attract and retain employees with the required skills has posed a challenge worldwide. A number of roles remain unfilled, and turnover rates are high.

This is especially true within the renewable energy industry, with workforce retraining required, especially in areas requiring new technologies such as GenAI (generative artificial intelligence).

UK-based recruitment company People With Energy has described how the sector's rapid evolution has led to this significant demand for professionals who can design, implement and maintain solar and wind power technologies.

A specialised workforce with a deep knowledge of engineering, technology and environmental science is required. Read more about renewable energy careers.

What are the future trends for the UK energy industry?

Meeting net zero targets

The energy industry is leading the way by investing in low-carbon energy solutions to meet the government's strategic goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. With 40% of electricity coming from renewable sources, this is a step in the right direction. However, the recent energy crisis has highlighted our overreliance on gas, the most significant contributor to the UK's energy mix.

UK organisations in all sectors must consider their impact on society and the environment, with environmental, social and governance (ESG) playing a greater role in an overall business strategy. Consider how to get a job in sustainability.

Investing in tech skills and reducing emissions

PwC's 28th Annual Global CEO Survey (2025) revealed that over half of CEOs (56%) worldwide felt that GenAI had increased the efficiency of their employees.

This is in keeping with an article by management consultants McKinsey & Company on Beyond the hype: New opportunities for gen AI in energy and materials. The piece explained how GenAI's potential to aid decision-making benefits the energy market, which relies on data and analytics for innovation.

This increased reliance on digital technologies across the oil, gas and energy sectors will likely require IT graduates to fill technical roles in cyber security and big data.

The PwC report also found that global companies have invested in climate-friendly and sustainable initiatives. Indeed, a third of CEOs revealed that focusing on ESG during the last five years has increased revenue. Two-thirds also stated that these investments either reduced costs or had no significant cost impact.

These businesses face the challenge of delivering climate-friendly products and services and placing sustainability at the forefront of their data strategies.

This means there will likely be greater demand for energy managers, environmental consultants and those with knowledge of renewable energy solutions.

Discover 7 things you need to know about being an energy consultant.

Changing business practices to improve efficiency

Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also focusing on sustainable and renewable energy, with increased investment in:

smart lighting
energy consumption monitoring
electric vehicle (EV) charging (to reduce fuel costs).

Energy suppliers must address these specialist demands and hire workers with the necessary sustainability, tech and engineering skills. Explore the roles of an environmental and energy engineer.

Find out more

Consider related graduate engineering jobs.
Discover how to become an engineer.