London alliance takes action to tackle electrical skills gap
A new alliance has been launched in London to help address the area’s electrical skills gap by bringing together local Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) Member businesses, training providers and the local authority.
The Local London Electrotechnical Careers and Training Alliance (ETCA) covers East London and surrounding areas. It will support closer collaboration between employers, education partners and local decision-makers to strengthen routes into the electrotechnical sector and help more people access high-quality, work-based training.
Led by ECA and its Members and in collaboration with the Greater London CTEC, led by New City College, the ETCA will focus on practical local action to improve skills provision, support employers and build the qualified electrical workforce needed for future demand across housing, infrastructure, clean energy and digital technologies.
At the launch, which took place at Barnet & Southgate College, the discussion highlighted significant challenges facing the electrotechnical workforce, with concerns that current skills capacity is not sufficient to meet future demand, including net zero and clean energy targets.
Speakers noted that while interest in apprenticeships remains strong, employers are struggling to take on new starters due to commercial pressures, tight margins and the cost of training in the early stages. The need for clearer pathways into the industry, stronger links between education and employers, and better understanding among policymakers of existing electrical training routes – including EV and solar – were also raised.
Bayley Hall, Social Value Lead at ECA Member Phoenix ME, said:
“Supporting younger people does benefit us [employers] in the long run.
“If you’re helping younger people when they’re at school from an early age all the way through to further education, we can then play our part as employers by making the industry an attractive place to work and supporting them via an apprenticeship and beyond, throughout their career.”
Keith Sanderson, Head of Education and Skills at ECA, said:
“Electrical skills shortages are a pressing challenge, and they can only be addressed effectively when employers, training providers and local decision makers work together.
“This ETCA is an important step towards creating a stronger local skills pipeline. By bringing together local contractors, education partners and the local authority, we can help ensure skills provision is better aligned with employer demand and the future needs of the electrotechnical sector.”
Chris Davies, Barnet & Southgate College CTEC Sub-Regional Lead: Local London, said:
“The Local London CTEC working with ETCA represents a significant opportunity to reshape how the electrotechnical skills system responds to employer demand. The challenge isn’t simply attracting more learners into the sector – it’s creating a joined-up skills pipeline that enables more people to progress into apprenticeships and sustained employment. By aligning education, industry and Government priorities, we’re building a model that is responsive to the needs of employers today while preparing the workforce needed to deliver London’s long-term growth, infrastructure ambitions and transition to a net zero economy. We’re proud to be playing a leading role in driving that collaboration.”
The following organisations are taking part in the Local London Electrotechnical Careers and Training Alliance:
Electrical businesses
- Crosby Electrical
- Dalkia
- Drax 360
- ESG Ltd
- NG Bailey
- Phoenix ME
- Playfords
- RGE Services
- Simian risk
- VVB Engineering
Training providers
- NICEIC
- Barnet & Southgate College
- New City College
- Waltham Forest College
- London South East Colleges
- JTL
- Capital City College
- Newham College
- Fastned
Local authority/regional bodies
- Greater London Authority
- Business LDN, Local Skills Improvement Plan
- Local London
- London Borough of Redbridge
- Lambeth Council
Industry bodies
- ECA
- The Electrotechnical Joint Industry Board (JIB)
- Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS)
- Unite the Union
Find out more about ETCAs and how to get involved here.
