Industry publishes first comprehensive skills plan for engineering and building services

The first industry-led, comprehensive skills plan for the engineering and building service sector has been published this week by the Engineering and Building Services Skills Alliance (EBSSA).

The skills plan highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector, including over 50% of vacancies being hard to fill and declining apprenticeship starts. These findings echo the evidence set out in ECA’s (Electrical Contractors’ Association) Electrical Skills Index.

The plan sets out ten clear recommendations for industry and Government, focusing on action in England whilst acknowledging the actions must be considered in a UK-wide context.

Ruth Devine MBE, Director of SJD Associates Ltd, President of ECA and Employer Chair of The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP) said:

“EBSSA has brought together different parts of the E&BS sector in creating this plan, combing existing evidence, identifying successful work already undertaken by trade bodies and industry-training partnerships, and how best to scale up and expand these good models. It also recognises where and what further government support is needed so that our sector can continue to provide quality work and opportunities for sustainable careers.”

Mark Lawrence, CEO of ECA Member business, TClarke, and industry representative for E&BS on the Construction Skills Mission Board added:

“Engineering and building services are an integral part of any construction or maintenance project, and we need to ensure a pipeline of skilled and competent people to carry out such work to the best of our abilities.

“The plan explains the challenges our businesses face to achieve this and articulates why solutions should be tailored to achieve results and maximise government and industry investment.”

The EBSSA Sector Skills Plan Ten Recommendations to Government and Industry are:

• Formally Recognise EBSSA: As the lead vehicle for convening E&BS input into skills policy design and workforce planning.
• Use Sector-Led Labour Market Intelligence: Work with EBSSA and its members to maximise the benefits of sector-specific data and analysis.
• Support SMEs: Boost financial incentives and practical support to help small businesses recruit, train, and retain workers.
• Strengthen Skills Requirements in Contracts: Include effective skills and employment targets in public and private sector contracts.
• Review Worker Status: Align employment rights reforms with tax and NI reform to reduce reliance on casual labour and encourage investment in training.
• Protect and Expand Industry-Recognised Training Routes: Work with EBSSA to safeguard and grow industry-valued apprenticeships, NVQs, and experienced worker assessment routes.
• Reprioritise Adult Upskilling: Improve funding and access to adult NVQ and experienced worker assessment routes.
• Develop a National Installer Skills Matrix: Clarify and rationalise skills requirements for energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies.
• Boost Tutor and Assessor Capacity: Recruit and retain more qualified staff to deliver high quality industry-recognised training.
• Improve Progression Rates from Classroom-Based Courses: Prioritise learners moving from classroom courses into industry-recognised training.

ECA is a founding member of EBSSA, the skills coalition convened by Actuate UK members, alongside other leading sector bodies. EBSSA’s role is to provide a credible, authoritative voice for skills across all engineering and building services.

This article appears on the ECA news and blogsite as "Industry publishes first comprehensive skills plan for engineering and building services" dated 24 February 2026.

--ECA

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