YEN Blog-BEMS sector offers climate-conscious generation ideal opportunity to drive change
As climate change accelerates, empowering the younger generation to drive real change, both for the built environment and the planet, has never been more important. Through rewarding apprenticeship opportunities and a variety of exciting career paths, the building controls and automation sector is leading the way in helping young professionals shape future sustainability and energy efficiency strategy.
Providing the chance to reduce the built environment’s carbon footprint in such a way is crucial, given commercial buildings account for around 40% of the UK’s total energy consumption.
A Generation Ready to Act
Recent research by UNICEF reveals strong optimism among young people:
72% believe there's still time to address the climate crisis
60% say gaining green skills will unlock new career opportunities
65% of UK respondents are eager to work in green jobs
However, only 66% feel they currently possess the green skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce. This highlights a clear need to bridge the gap between ambition and capability—and the BEMS sector is stepping up to meet this challenge.
Sustainability in Action: Opportunities in Building Controls and Automation
At the forefront of decarbonisation and energy performance improvement, the BEMS sector is actively enabling young people to develop the skills needed to optimise building operations and drive real change.
The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) plays a pivotal role in this effort through its BEMS Controls Engineer Level 4 Apprenticeship – the only specialised apprenticeship dedicated to the building controls sector. Designed to address the ongoing skills shortage, the programme blends technical training with hands-on experience across key areas including:
Controls hardware and logic
Communication protocols
Supervisor software
Networking and field devices
Spanning 36 months, the apprenticeship provides a comprehensive pathway to earning a Level 4 qualification – paving the way for a meaningful and future-ready career. The apprenticeship has attracted more than 250 learners from more than 100 different employers.
Unlocking Green Careers in a Growing Sector
With sustainability now central to government policy and industry strategy including the UK’s commitment to net zero by 2050, career opportunities within the building controls and automation sector are expanding rapidly. Roles now include:
Building Automation Engineers
HVAC Engineers
Smart Building Consultants
EMS (Energy Management System) Specialists
Sustainability Consultants
These positions are integral to designing, installing, maintaining, and optimising smart building systems, helping organisations manage and optimise energy consumption, enhance indoor environments, improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions. Young professionals have a wide range of exciting opportunities to develop skills and contribute to a more sustainable built environment.
This year’s winner of the Young Engineer of the Year award at the BCIA Awards, Zoe Dickson, Project Sales Engineer, SSE Energy Solutions has previously shared how she feels her role makes an impact, “reducing energy wastage and lowering carbon consumption is something I’ve been passionate about for a long time, and I get a strong sense of purpose and fulfilment from knowing I’m doing my bit for the environment.”
Empowering the Next Generation to Lead
By equipping young people with essential green skills, the building controls and automation sector is not just offering career opportunities, it is empowering the next generation to drive change in the built environment. As these individuals enter the workforce, they bring fresh perspectives, urgency, and creativity to the industry, helping to accelerate innovation and shape a greener future.
The UNICEF survey also revealed while the younger generation want to influence climate and environmental policy directly, they feel policymakers ignore them. Working in the building controls and automation sector and engaging with the BCIA’s Young Engineers Network (YEN) will give young professionals the opportunity to work collaboratively with others both inside and outside the industry to drive the BEMS sector forward.
YEN Chair, Josh Steel, revealed the opportunity to drive change had been a huge motivator in him starting a career in the building controls industry. The Support Division Sales Manager at Electracom said: "I was hugely interested in energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, so was delighted to start working in the BEMS industry. I've now been doing so for over a decade, having gone through the ranks of a BMS electrical installer to BMS service and small works engineer and now Sales Manager.
"Those that know me, know how much I love this industry. The young engineers are the future of our industry and if we all work hard collaboratively, I'm sure we'll be able to look back with pride at what we and all the young engineers accomplished."
YEN Vice Chair Stan Thomas, who is the UK South Sales & Account Manager at Sontay, also shared, how he has always had a passion about sustainability and how his role lets him pursue this “ I’ve always been passionate about sustainability, and this industry gives me a unique opportunity to help shape it — every project we deliver has the potential to cut emissions and drive lasting change. It’s a privilege to work in a sector where young engineers can make such a direct impact on the future of our built environment.”
A Call to Action
With climate and sustainability issues now a priority across society and the built environment, there has never been a better time to inspire young people to pursue impactful careers. The building controls and automation sector stands out as a driver of smart, sustainable innovation, and as a powerful force in the UK’s path to net zero.
For climate-conscious young professionals looking to make a real difference, BEMS is not just a career choice – it’s a movement.
Find out more about the Young Engineers Network