BOB THE BUILDER™ IS BACK WITH GREEN SKILLS FOR THE UK’S ENERGY TRANSITION
Posted by: electime 16th September 2026
Iconic British character Bob the Builder* is returning in his original stop-motion form as part of a new initiative with E.ON Next, to inspire people to learn the green skills needed for the UK’s energy transition.
With Neil Morrissey reprising his role as the voice of the country’s best-loved tradesperson for the first time since 2011, the brand-new production – released today across E.ON UK’s social media channels – shows what Bob has been up to in his time away.
Motivated by the growing role technologies such as solar panels and batteries can play in lowering bills and putting people in control of the energy they use, Bob enrols at E.ON Next’s Net Zero Training Academy to learn new green skills.
The campaign shines a light on the progress needed to support the UK’s transition to clean power, with the government targeting a decarbonised electricity system by 2030. While the products needed to transform homes are already available, people working in the sector believe more needs to be done to ensure the workforce can roll them out across the country.
New research** commissioned by E.ON Next reveals that around one third (31%) of UK energy sector professionals believe the workforce is not yet fully equipped to install the technologies needed for the energy transition. At the same time, 89% agree that greater investment and closer collaboration between government and industry are needed. An equal proportion (89%) say that upskilling the existing workforce will be just as important as attracting new talent to meet future demand.
Looking ahead, energy sector professionals also believe greater investment in green skills will deliver tangible benefits, with job creation (67%), reduced carbon emissions (66%) and lower energy bills (64%) emerging as the top three advantages.
Helen Bradbury, Chief People Officer at E.ON UK, said: “Bob the Builder has always inspired people to solve problems and build things that matter. Today, those same qualities are needed to help deliver the UK’s transition to clean power.
“By embracing green skills and fronting this campaign, he’s a shining example of how we can make new energy work for everyone. If we invest in people’s homes, we can build a new energy system from the ground up. One that uses low-carbon, connected technologies like solar panels and batteries to put customers back in control of their energy use and lower their bills. Just last year, our project in Coventry showed that households can save an average of £255 a year when a home battery is paired with a time-of-use tariff.
“There are wider benefits across the country. Products like solar panels and batteries help reduce pressure on the network, improve energy security and create jobs.”
A new chapter for Britain’s favourite builder
In the brand-new, 90-second production on E.ON’s channels, viewers discover what Bob has been up to.
The content shows how Bob took up new hobbies including yoga and birdwatching, before a trip to Australia encourages him to explore the opportunities created by clean power innovation. Inspired by the country’s widespread use of technologies such as solar panels and home batteries, Bob returns to the UK determined to learn new skills.
Reflecting on his return as the voice of Bob the Builder, Neil Morrisey said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure stepping back into Bob’s boots. There aren’t many characters who are still recognised and remembered years after they first appeared on screen, so it’s been fantastic to revisit a role that means so much to so many people. Bringing Bob back with this E.ON Next campaign has been a real trip down memory lane, and I hope it brings a smile to everyone who grew up watching him.
“The world has changed a lot since Bob first appeared on our screens, but the need for people to learn new skills and build in a sustainable way is still as important as ever, if not even more so. That’s exactly what Bob is all about.”
Developing the skills needed for the energy transition
E.ON UK is one of the country’s leading energy training providers, and one of its flagship investments in green skills is the Net Zero Training Academy. The facility provides training in technologies including solar panels, battery storage systems, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and low-carbon heating solutions.
Through the Academy and its wider initiatives, E.ON UK supports around 800 people annually in developing the skills needed for the energy transition. E.ON has also trained over 1,200 apprentices since 2018 across 100 programmes, including green skills-based courses such as control systems engineering and electro-mechanical engineering.
As an indication of the demand for these qualifications, the company has seen applications for degree apprenticeships more than treble in the past three years, with around 165 applicants for every role in 2026, compared with 45 per role in 2023 in 2026.
Helen Bradbury added: “The need and the demand for green skills in the UK energy sector are there. Now it’s up to energy companies and the government, working together, to deliver for the country’s clean power ambitions.”
