Skilled workers in sector crucial for built environment and net zero, body says
The Electrical Contractors鈥� Association (ECA) has called on the next government to prioritise investment in electrical skills to achieve the UK鈥檚 net-zero goals.
The organisation said demand for a skilled electrical workforce was 鈥渂ecoming increasingly urgent鈥� as part of the country鈥檚 decarbonisation strategy.
While more than 20,000 people enrol in classroom-based electrical courses annually, fewer than 10% advance to apprenticeships.
The ECA said this gap was undermining the workforce鈥檚 expansion at a time it was needed for rising installation and maintenance of heat pumps, solar panels and electrical vehicle charging infrastructure.
鈥淓CA members are feeling the impact of a flawed skills system daily,鈥� said its head of public affairs Jane Dawson.
鈥淭he disconnect between education and industry results in inefficiencies that hinder our progress towards net-zero.
鈥淲e need to ensure that aspiring electricians have clear, supported pathways into the profession, which means creating more apprenticeship opportunities and fostering stronger partnerships between educational institutions and industry.鈥�
>> Read more: How can we tackle the skills crisis? The next generation reports
The ECA鈥檚 charter to recharge electrical skills, introduced last November, has been endorsed by a coalition of industry bodies, including Green Alliance, Energy Networks Association, RenewableUK, Joint Industry Board, EAL, and BESA.
No comments yet