London, United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Free PLC training in London

Engineers and technicians in London can learn PLC programming, SCADA, drives and instrumentation free, online and at their own pace, with the courses below chosen for the city's automotive, food and beverage, ports and logistics. The optional certificate is US$23.99 (≈ £19) for a beginner course.

Why automation skills matter in London

London's industrial base runs from Ford's Dagenham diesel-engine plant and the Park Royal food cluster to the semi-automated container terminal at London Gateway and the Thames Tideway Tunnel. All of these depend on PLC, drive and control-system skills. Engineering Council UK registration through the IET or InstMC, and the ST1426 control and instrumentation apprenticeship, give those skills a recognised route.

Automotive

Ford's Dagenham Engine Plant, the largest manufacturing site in London, builds 2.0 L, 1.5 L and 3.0 L V6 diesel engines.

Food and beverage

Park Royal hosts around 500 food companies, including Diageo, McVitie's and Heinz.

Ports and logistics

DP World London Gateway in Thurrock runs a semi-automated deep-sea container terminal; the Port of Tilbury is the largest of the Thames ports.

Water and wastewater

The Thames Tideway Tunnel became fully operational in February 2025, carrying sewage via the Lee Tunnel to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works.

Industrial zones in and around London

Thames Freeport
Economic zone linking Ford Dagenham with the Port of Tilbury and DP World London Gateway; its target sectors include advanced manufacturing and clean energy.
Park Royal
The largest business park in London, with food and drink, transport and logistics clusters.

Which PLCs you are likely to meet

Local training-market signal (what providers teach, not a market-share figure): UK City & Guilds Assured PLC training (Scantime IMFFP) covers Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Mitsubishi, Omron and Schneider PLCs plus CODESYS.

Free courses for London

PLC programming · Beginner · Free

Siemens TIA Portal

Robotics · Beginner · Free

FANUC Robot Programming with the Teach Pendant and ROBOGUIDE

Robotics · Beginner · Free

ABB Robot Programming with RobotStudio and RAPID

Quality management · Intermediate · Free

Automotive Core Tools: FMEA (AIAG-VDA 1st Edition)

HMI · Beginner · Free

Weintek HMI with EasyBuilder Pro

Fluid power · Beginner · Free

Industrial Pneumatics and Hydraulics

All free courses

The certificate

Beginner US$23.99 (≈ £19), a one-off fee. Your bank handles any currency conversion. Issued when you pass the course's final assessment, with a code anyone can verify.

How the certificate works

Useful local bodies

For registration and recognised qualifications in United Kingdom. EDWartens is not affiliated with them.

Engineering Council UK
UK regulator for the engineering profession; holds the registers for Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Engineering Technician (EngTech).
Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Professional engineering institution licensed to assess candidates for professional registration.
Institute of Measurement and Control (InstMC)
Professional body for automation, measurement and control; supports CEng, IEng and EngTech registration.
Engineering maintenance technician - single discipline apprenticeship (ST1426)
Skills England standard approved for delivery from June 2025, with an electrical, a mechanical, and a control and instrumentation option; it replaces the older ST0154 standard.

Questions from London

Is there free PLC training in London?

Yes, online. Every EDWartens course is free to learn in full from London: video lessons, notes, practice and a final assessment, in English, at your own pace. They run in the vendors' free or trial software with simulators, so you need a computer, not a PLC.

How much is the certificate?

The certificate is optional. For a beginner course it is US$23.99 (about £19), a one-off fee; intermediate and advanced courses cost a little more. Learning stays free whether or not you buy it.

Which PLC should I learn first in London?

Start with Siemens TIA Portal. It matches what plants in the region commonly run; the other courses on this page follow London's main industries.

Is the certificate recognised by employers in London?

It is an EDWartens Certificate of Completion with a public verification code, not a vendor, university or government qualification. Employers can check it online; many will also want to see a project you built.

Also in United Kingdom: Birmingham, Manchester

Sources

Local facts checked 26 September 2026. Company and plant names are their owners' and are mentioned for context only.