Growth will be stifled unless electrical sector can support young people to build the workforce of the future, warns industry expert
An influential and informed voice in the UK’s electrical sector has issued a stark warning about the critical need to attract more young people into apprenticeships if there is to be any hope of the industry achieving its rich growth potential.
Ian Hunter, UK Trade Sales Director at Luceco, said the electrotechnical industry has the capacity and capability to service a much bigger market, but that ambition would be stifled without enough skilled people to carry out the work.
His message was delivered to an industry-wide gathering hosted by the Scottish section of the Electrical Distributors’ Association at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, which considered the changing economic landscape and future demands on electricity.
And it followed a groundbreaking link-up with SELECT, Scotland’s largest trade construction association in the Powering Potential initiative announced last month, in which Luceco pledged to invest £18,000 to support apprentices in the country.
Mr Hunter, who began his working life as an electrical apprentice, said:
“What I am really concerned about, both short-term and long-term, is the shortage of skilled electricians, which is a major issue for everyone in this room.
“I look at the incredible potential we have to provide products and services to an industry that is potentially much bigger than where we are today.
“Advances in technology, product innovation, project management, same day stock availability, training, data, credit – they are all key ingredients in delivering the buildings of the future and the ongoing upgrade of the country’s existing portfolio and infrastructure.
“We can meet growing demands, but we need more people to install those products.”
Sharon Miller, Managing Director of SELECT, said:
“The feedback from distributors, manufacturers and members has been very positive. Conversation around the initiative has been strong with great feedback from distributors and manufacturers as well as the Electrical Contractors’ Association.
“This partnership is a practical example of industry coming together to find solutions and support the next generation of electricians.”
Luceco and SELECT’s £18,000 initiative will support three apprentices across Scotland, with grants awarded to employers in the East, West and North of the country.
The sponsorship by Luceco, which has global sales in excess of £230 million, is aimed at easing the financial hit employers take in the first year of an apprenticeship. It will:
- Support three first-year electrical apprentices employed by SELECT Member companies.
- Provide three grants of £6,000 per company.
- Reduce the first year’s wage cost, which next year will rise to £16,224 pa.
Luceco and SELECT’s intervention in skills development comes after a recent SELECT Member survey disclosed that high wages and lack of employer funding are the biggest obstacles to Scotland’s electrical businesses recruiting apprentices, and that Government funding was wholly inadequate.
The new partnership will be supported by the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT), the approved training scheme for the country’s electrical apprentices.
