Collaboration in action to bridge the electrical skills gap in Kent

ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association) Member businesses, industry bodies, education providers and public authorities, have joined together to create an alliance to tackle the shortage of electrotechnical skills in Kent and Medway.

The soon-to-be-launched Kent & Medway Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance (ETCA), aims to strengthen electrotechnical skills development and careers provision within the county, and provide the competence and professionalism needed to meet the demand of electrification in the UK.

The Alliance is a joint initiative led by ECA and its Members, with Kent and Invicta Chamber of Commerce.

Andrew Eldred, Deputy CEO at ECA, said: “ECA Members in Kent & Medway know, as leading businesses in the area, how important it is to get together and resolve the skills gap issue locally. It is crucial for meeting local and national targets for housing, industry, clean energy and digital infrastructure.

“This will be the fifth local Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance that has been launched in less than a year. It joins other ETCAs in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, Cheshire & Warrington, and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.”

Stuart Gibson, Divisional Manager at ECA Member Niblock Electrical Services, said: “Kent needs many more qualified, skilled electricians to achieve its huge economic potential. As local employers and strong supporters of high-quality training, we and other ECA Members welcome the shared commitment shown by industry, education, local authorities and the Chamber of Commerce to start to address the opportunities and challenges Kent faces together through a new ETCA.”

Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce is the Employer Representative Body appointed by the Secretary of State for Education to lead the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Kent & Medway.

Camilla Maurice, Kent & Medway LSIP Lead said: “The Kent & Medway ETCA represents a decisive step toward building a future-ready electrotechnical workforce. By aligning employer demand with high-quality training provision, we’re creating a collaborative framework to address critical skills shortages across housing, clean energy, and digital infrastructure. This Alliance empowers businesses to shape the talent pipeline, unlock growth, and ensure Kent and Medway remain competitive and resilient in a rapidly evolving economy.”

An ETCA roundtable event recently took place at the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce offices in Ashford, with a wide range of electrical businesses, industry bodies, education providers and public authorities meeting together to discuss electrical skills priorities in the county. As a next step, it was agreed to draw up a formal list of participants and priority objectives, which will provide a starting point for the new Kent & Medway ETCA. One early piece of work will focus on barriers to recognition of prior learning for individuals seeking an apprenticeship after completing a college electrical course.

The following organisations attended the roundtable and indicated their willingness to join the ETCA. Others may be invited to get involved as the ETCA takes shape.

Electrical businesses

Electrical industry bodies

Education providers

Regional/local bodies

Find out more about ETCAs and how to get involved here.

This article appears on the ECA news and blogsite as "Collaboration in action to bridge the electrical skills gap in Kent" dated 27 October, 2025.

--ECA