Skills gap for net zero highlighted to Minister for Industry

In the run up to Labour Party Conference, leading voices from the electrical industry, Labour MPs and Government Ministers convened for a roundtable discussion hosted by the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) at Portcullis House.

The event, sponsored by Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee, focused on addressing the critical shortage of qualified electricians needed to meet the UK’s net-zero ambitions. The discussion was attended by Sarah Jones, Minister of State for Industry, DBT and DESNZ, as well as Labour MPs whose constituencies are experiencing a severe shortfall in electrical apprenticeships and skilled workers.

The ECA’s Electrical Skills Index was a key focus of the discussion. This dataset offers a detailed analysis of the disparity between the number of individuals enrolling in classroom-based electrical courses and those entering into apprenticeships. The Index reveals that while over 20,000 individuals enrol in classroom-based training each year, fewer than 10% make the transition into apprenticeships – which is a necessary step to get the hands-on experience required. The other 90% are unable to get a foothold in an industry that desperately needs more electricians.

The Electrical Skills Index identifies constituencies across England where the shortage of qualified electricians is particularly acute, including constituencies represented by several of the MPs in attendance. This shortage poses a major challenge for the Labour Government’s mission-led agenda, from building 1.5 million new homes, to becoming a clean energy superpower.

Sarah Jones, Minister of State for Industry, commented: “We need to rapidly upskill workers so we have the tools we need to meet our clean power by 2030 mission.

“We can’t get to net zero without electricians that can connect EV chargers or install a heat pump, and skills will be a core focus of our industrial strategy.”

The roundtable provided an opportunity for Labour MPs to discuss the local challenges their constituencies face and explore policy solutions to increase the number of apprenticeships. The ECA’s Charter to #RechargeElectricalSkillswas presented as a roadmap for addressing the crisis. The Charter advocates for:

• Placing qualified electricians at the heart of net-zero: Ensuring skilled electricians lead the deployment of low-carbon technologies, such a heat pumps and EV chargers.
• Increasing the number of qualified electricians: Expanding educational and training pathways to boost the number of certified professionals.
• Establishing a stronger skills pipeline: Building clearer transitions from education to employment, with enhanced apprenticeships and industry partnerships.

The roundtable underscored the urgent need for collaboration between government, industry, and educational institutions to address the growing net-zero skills gap. With the Labour Government’s ambitious goals in clean energy and infrastructure development, the skills crisis is becoming a major barrier to success.

Jane Dawson, Head of External Affairs, said “If we are to achieve meaningful change in the system, we must continue to have dialogue with policymakers, education providers and the wider industry. There is a huge opportunity for our industry as the country electrifies at an increasing pace. Our sector is key to the government's mission for economic growth and net-zero, while providing lots of well-paid jobs."

The ECA remains committed to working closely with policymakers to ensure that the UK's electrical workforce is equipped to meet the demands of the future and to realise the UK’s net-zero ambitions.

This article was issued via press release and on the ECA news and blog as "ECA highlights skills gap with Minister for Industry", dated 24 September 2024.

--ECA

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