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
| Chord Engineering, Maidstone | Gilbert & Stamper, Tonbridge |
| Niblock Electrical Services, Bromley | Triple Star Fire & Security, Orpington |
Electrical industry bodies
| ECA | Joint Industry Board (JIB)/ Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) |
| NICEIC | The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP) |
| Build UK |
Education providers
| East Kent College | Electrical Academy |
| JTL | Mid Kent College |
| North Kent College |
Regional/local bodies
| Kent County Council | Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce |
| Medway Council |
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
Featured articles and news
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description fron the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”
Guidance notes to prepare for April ERA changes
From the Electrical Contractors' Association Employee Relations team.
Significant changes to be seen from the new ERA in 2026 and 2027, starting on 6 April 2026.
First aid in the modern workplace with St John Ambulance.
Solar panels, pitched roofs and risk of fire spread
60% increase in solar panel fires prompts tests and installation warnings.
Modernising heat networks with Heat interface unit
Why HIUs hold the key to efficiency upgrades.