11
Nov
Oakes Energy has announced a significant investment in the future of its workforce by launching its very own ‘Future Leaders Programme’.
Curtis Simpson, a project engineer in the building services engineering department, and Finlay Lowes, a design engineer for the renewables department, have been selected to undertake a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Durham University. Both engineers will be fully sponsored and mentored by Oakes Energy throughout the programme, which aims to cultivate leadership and management skills within the company.
The decision to sponsor the talented engineers aligns with Oakes Energy’s broader strategy to address the growing skills shortage in the engineering and renewable energy industries. By nurturing in-house talent through advanced education and mentorship, Oakes Energy is proactively upskilling its workforce to ensure sustainable leadership for years to come.
In addition to the ‘Future Leaders Programme,’ Oakes Energy, which is part of the PHS Group, is also continuing its commitment to early talent development with its degree apprenticeship programme. The first office-based degree apprentice building services engineer began their journey with the company in September 2023 and the second in September 2024. Each year, Oakes recruits at least one new apprentice from a local school, generally as part of Oakes STEM Ambassador programme providing them with an opportunity to work within the company’s commercial engineering office. Through a unique rotational system, apprentices gain hands-on experience across four core departments: building services engineering, ground source, PV, & service.
Nik Smith, Oakes Director said: “The MBA will not only provide Curtis and Finlay with essential leadership skills, but it will also prepare them to take on higher-level management roles in the future,”
“In an industry facing a shortage of skilled professionals, we’re very proud to be supporting our current workforce in the best way to ensure we meet both our short-term and long-term goals.”