Sparks of 2026: #21 Sonny Collins - The Generation of Change
Sonny Collins MCIOB GradISEP is a standout young talent in the UK retrofit sector, a rare example of someone who didn’t come through the traditional university route, yet is already shaping how retrofit gets done on the ground.
At just 19, Sonny became one of Britain’s youngest Level 5 Retrofit Coordinators, after progressing rapidly through energy-assessment and retrofit qualifications with strong practical support from his employer. His journey, from college electrical installation and admin work into technical leadership, shows how alternative pathways can deliver highly capable retrofit professionals without the burden of student debt.
He’s a key part of EcoGiants, a fast-growing energy efficiency and retrofit firm based in Clitheroe and expanding nationwide, helping homeowners, councils and housing providers cut energy bills and carbon emissions through funded retrofit measures like insulation, heat pumps and solar.
EcoGiants
Sonny Works For Clitheroe's Eco Champions - EcoGiants
Sonny regularly shares insights on sustainability, PAS 2035 compliance, ECO4 funding and practical delivery, advocating for clearer career pathways into retrofit, fair pay, and a sector that speaks to the next generation rather than traditional professional hierarchies.
In his story you see plumbers, heat pump engineers, builders and retrofit coordinators not as fringe ‘eco’ roles but as the future workforce that can deliver tangible climate impact well-paid, skilled and grounded in real-world problem-solving.
We can see looking forward, that retrofit experts, trades and engineering specialisms are emptying out as the workforce ages. If you need an example of how that can change Sonny is a prime example. That's why he's no #21 in our Sparks list for 2026 - definitely a rising star.
