ECA urges Skills England to back low-carbon skills with training that protects safety and competence

ECA has welcomed Skills England’s ambition to strengthen the UK’s workforce for the low-carbon transition, including in areas such as EV charge points and solar PV. However, it is warning that fast-tracked apprenticeship units must not come at the expense of electrical safety, competence and industry-recognised standards. Keith Sanderson, Head of Education and Skills at ECA, […]

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The possible bottleneck in the electrotechnical qualifications sector

Are new EAS requirements and tighter ECS criteria set to squeeze the workforce at a time when electrical expertise is more critical than ever? The UK electrotechnical sector is approaching a critical pressure point. Following the introduction of the updated Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) and wider electrical scheme changes coming into force this October, registered […]

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Upskill qualified electricians to maintain safe standards in renewable technology, says JIB

On 1 May 2026 FE Week reported on industry concerns about renewable technology training courses. Those which follow the Government-backed ‘Skills Bootcamp’ model are highlighted as particularly worrying, in terms of teaching methods and the quality of assessment. These are short-cut routes which do not result in competent installers and therefore undermine safety. Experts within the electrotechnical […]

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ECA backs FE Week warning: ‘green skills’ must mean qualified, competent and safe

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has praised FE Week for highlighting a growing risk: ‘green skills’ courses that don’t align with industry occupational and training standards – and therefore don’t develop or validate real competence. With electrification accelerating across homes and workplaces, competence is non‑negotiable. When training bypasses industry-endorsed standards, the consequences can be unsafe work, poor-quality, […]

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ECA welcomes DESNZ clean workforce report

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has warmly welcomed the report from the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, Workforce planning to deliver clean secure energy.  The report clearly reflects the case ECA has been making on the need for a stronger, more coherent approach to clean energy skills – the Government cannot achieve a safe energy […]

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