gov – Electrical & Plumbing Skills

All gov Articles

gov

14th September 2026

Local leaders have say on reforms to prepare youngsters for work

Local leaders had their say on how to drive excellence across the education system and better prepare young people for work during a summit hosted by the Education Secretary. Regional mayors, business leaders, headteachers and college principals convened on 10 September at No10 North in Manchester to shape plans to make England a technical education […]

Read full article

gov

14th September 2026

Government action needed to get more young women on engineering and tech pathways

A new blueprint from the Gender Pathways collective calls on Government to take sustained action so more girls and young women can access engineering and technology education pathways. Girls and young women remain significantly underrepresented on education pathways into engineering and technology. In England, by age 18, only 26% of those on engineering and technology […]

Read full article

gov

7th September 2026

City of Portsmouth College strengthens its position as a leading construction training provider with £1.2m Government investment

City of Portsmouth College (COPC) is strengthening its position as a leading provider of construction and specialist technical training in Portsmouth and the wider Solent region, following a £1.2 million investment from the Department for Education (DfE) Post-16 Construction Skills Capacity Fund. The funding, alongside significant investment from COPC, will support the development and expansion […]

Read full article

gov

17th August 2026

Government orders that public spending must back British jobs and skills in every postcode

Businesses bidding for Government contracts – a market worth £90bn per year – will be judged on their commitment to creating high-quality British jobs, tackling local skills shortages and supporting young people into apprenticeships and work placements. The Government wants every young person to have the chance to earn or learn. New rules will double the […]

Read full article

gov

17th August 2026

High wages and ‘pitiful’ employer funding are main reasons for not taking on an electrical apprentice

High wages and lack of employer funding are the biggest obstacles to Scotland’s electrical businesses recruiting apprentices, a new survey by Scotland’s largest construction trade association, SELECT, has revealed. Some 52% of respondents to the poll said that the financial double-whammy was the main reason for them not taking on an apprentice or adult trainee. A massive 87% claimed that […]

Read full article

gov

4th August 2026

PM announces education reform, with new technical routes available from age 14 – NICEIC response

Following the Government’s announcement that schools in England will offer greater access to technical and vocational subjects from age 14, NICEIC CEO Clair Mowbray commented: “We welcome this announcement as a positive step forward and an important recognition of the vital role that skilled trades will play in the UK’s future. “It is particularly encouraging to hear the Prime Minister specifically reference […]

Read full article

gov

31st July 2026

Nine EAL qualifications added to Free Courses for Jobs from August 2026

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced an expansion of the Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ) programme, with 72 engineering and manufacturing qualifications approved for inclusion from 1 August 2026. The expansion will help increase access to fully funded training in priority skills areas, supporting employers to address workforce shortages across the sector. EAL is pleased to […]

Read full article

gov

28th July 2026

New focus on technical education has potential to spark a new generation of electricians, says ECA

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has welcomed Andy Burnham’s announcement that technical education will sit at the heart of the curriculum from age 14, saying it is keen to see the detail and work with Government to help more people become competent, qualified electricians with rewarding careers. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has set out reforms […]

Read full article

gov

28th July 2026

Government invests in young people with more opportunities close to home

Thousands more young people will be able to gain the skills, qualifications and experience they need for future careers, as the Government today rolls out a major package to break down barriers stopping access to technical education, training and apprenticeships. Through new financial support, more college places and greater access to apprenticeships, the package will […]

Read full article

gov

28th July 2026

PM: ‘From today Britain will value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap’

The Prime Minister will unveil a fundamental change to the education system today, with the launch of new prestigious technical educational routes. The new pathways will provide 14-year-olds with valuable early access to technical skills, work experience and connections with local employers. The Prime Minister is determined to put technical education on an equal footing […]

Read full article

gov

20th July 2026

Youth Guarantee and apprenticeship support welcomed

JIB and ECS have welcomed Government initiatives to support training for young people. The Government will be fully funding apprenticeship training for eligible 16-24-year-olds at non-levy paying employers from the next academic year, expanding foundation apprenticeships and introducing short courses to help businesses develop the skills they need in England. This builds on increased flexibility […]

Read full article

gov

26th June 2026

New deal for young people to end ‘degree by default’ culture and boost youth apprenticeships

Ministers will unveil plans to crack down on poor‑quality university courses and shift investment further towards youth apprenticeships, as part of a ‘new deal for young people’. The deal delivers a renewed social contract with better opportunities to give young people real choices and real chances to get on, whether through university or high‑quality apprenticeships […]

Read full article

gov

12th June 2026

JTL hosts parliamentary reception on the future of the plumbing workforce

This week JTL welcomed MPs and peers, senior civil servants, plumbing industry stakeholders and employers to a parliamentary reception focused on the future of the plumbing workforce and the role of apprenticeships in strengthening the skills pipeline. The event provided a timely opportunity to explore the significant challenges facing the sector, including workforce shortages, falling […]

Read full article

gov

10th June 2026

Energy Minister visits refurbished Daikin Manchester facility to witness green upskilling boom

Daikin UK has welcomed Martin McCluskey, Minister for Energy Consumers, to its new Manchester training facility to see first-hand how the Government’s Heat Training Grant is helping to accelerate workforce development across the low-carbon heating sector. The visit provided an opportunity for the Minister to meet installers currently undertaking heat pump training, hear directly from […]

Read full article

gov

4th June 2026

Research reveals strong satisfaction among heat pump trainees

Hundreds of heat pump engineers are satisfied with their training in the clean energy jobs of the future thanks to a Government-backed scheme, as shown in new research published today (Thursday 4 June). Results from the mid-scheme review of the Government’s multi-million-pound Heat Training Grant show 94% of those surveyed said they were either very satisfied or satisfied with the training […]

Read full article

gov

3rd June 2026

Skills Minister opens JTL’s £1m Thames Valley Training Centre to boost electrical and low-carbon skills

On Thursday 28 May 2026, Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, visited JTL Thames Valley in Wheatley, Oxfordshire to meet with electrical apprentices, local employers and industry partners, and to see first-hand how JTL is supporting the next generation of skilled tradespeople. She officially declared the centre open with the push of a button – […]

Read full article

gov

3rd June 2026

Landmark report sets out action to address key skills gaps

Skills England published its Annual Skills Report on 1 June, marking its first anniversary with a comprehensive assessment of current and future skills needs. The Alan Milburn interim report into young people and work, published last week, found that nearly one million 16 to 24-year-olds are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), underlining the need […]

Read full article

gov

3rd June 2026

Government offers 300,000 new work experience and training placements

Young people across the country will be helped onto the career ladder thanks to the creation of 300,000 new work experience and training placements in sectors including construction, health and social care and hospitality. The new placements, part of a £2.5 billion youth employment support package, will see young people gain hands-on experience, build real […]

Read full article

All gov Articles

Local leaders have say on reforms to prepare youngsters for work

Government action needed to get more young women on engineering and tech pathways

City of Portsmouth College strengthens its position as a leading construction training provider with £1.2m Government investment

Government orders that public spending must back British jobs and skills in every postcode

High wages and ‘pitiful’ employer funding are main reasons for not taking on an electrical apprentice

PM announces education reform, with new technical routes available from age 14 – NICEIC response

Nine EAL qualifications added to Free Courses for Jobs from August 2026

New focus on technical education has potential to spark a new generation of electricians, says ECA

Government invests in young people with more opportunities close to home

PM: ‘From today Britain will value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap’

Youth Guarantee and apprenticeship support welcomed

New deal for young people to end ‘degree by default’ culture and boost youth apprenticeships

JTL hosts parliamentary reception on the future of the plumbing workforce

Energy Minister visits refurbished Daikin Manchester facility to witness green upskilling boom

Research reveals strong satisfaction among heat pump trainees

Skills Minister opens JTL’s £1m Thames Valley Training Centre to boost electrical and low-carbon skills

Landmark report sets out action to address key skills gaps

Government offers 300,000 new work experience and training placements

Subscribe to Our Newsletter