ECA Skills Committee appoints new Deputy Chair

Luke Cook, Associate Director at ECA Member Darke & Taylor Ltd., has been appointed as Deputy Chair of the ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association) Skills Committee.

Luke began his career as an electrical apprentice with Darke & Taylor in 2005 and has progressed through a range of roles in the business, including transforming the company’s Quality Assurance and Commissioning department. He has been a member of the ECA Skills Committee since 2023.

From its beginnings as an electrical services firm in 1958, Darke & Taylor has grown and developed a full range of building services solutions and today has the experience and expertise to offer a fully integrated MEP design, installation, commissioning and maintenance package. Darke & Taylor has been engaged with apprenticeship schemes for over 40 years and during this time has offered jobs and training to more than 400 school leavers looking to develop careers in the built environment. The company has a workforce of more than 250 people, of which over 90 are currently undertaking an apprenticeship or adult traineeship.

The ECA Skills Committee, chaired by ECA President Ruth Devine MBE, provides ECA Members with the opportunity to influence skills policies and the operation of skills systems across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as ‘giving back’ by helping to build the next generation of the electrotechnical industry. The Committee oversees ECA’s involvement in apprenticeships, qualifications, careers and upskilling existing electricians to meet the demands of expanding electrification.

ECA collaborates with government and other industry stakeholders to increase apprentice starts and upskill the existing workforce through initiatives like the Construction Skills Mission Board, ECA’s own All-Wales Skills Forum, regional Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliances (ETCAs), and skills charters in Wales and England.

Luke Cook said: “It’s an honour to be appointed Deputy Chair of the ECA Skills Committee. Having started my career as an apprentice, I’ve seen first-hand how powerful and life-changing high-quality training can be. As our industry evolves to meet the challenges of electrification and the drive toward net zero, it’s more important than ever that we invest in people and practical skills. I’m excited to help shape the future of training and support those starting out in the electrotechnical industry.”

Ruth Devine MBE said:

“ECA’s Skills Committee exists to support Members access the skilled people they need and strives to ensure the skills system works well for them. The skills gap is well documented in the electrotechnical industry and quality apprenticeships are vital to meet future demand. We want to help our Members recruit even more apprentices to secure the future of our industry.

“A former apprentice himself, and part of Darke & Taylor with over 50 years’ enviable success training apprentices, Luke’s contributions to the Skills Committee are incredibly valuable. Luke stepping up into future committee leadership as Deputy Chair is great news and I look forward to working with him throughout the rest of my term.”

ECA’s Skills Committee is currently recruiting for a committee member with careers or local skills engagement experience.

If you work for an ECA Member and would like to join the Committee, please visit ECA's website here for further information. The deadline for applications is Friday 15 August.

This article was issued via Press Release as "ECA Skills Committee appoints new Deputy Chair" dated 13 August, 2025.

--ECA

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