Electrical body welcomes DESNZ clean workforce report

The Committee delivered a clear and timely message: the UK cannot produce its clean energy and retrofit ambitions without targeted support for the SMEs

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) applauded the report from the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, ‘Workforce planning to deliver clean, secure energy’.

The report reflects the case ECA has been making for a stronger, more coherent approach to clean energy skills: the Government cannot achieve a safe energy transition without enough competent electricians. 

The Committee delivered a clear and timely message: the UK cannot produce its clean energy and retrofit ambitions without targeted support for the SMEs that train most new entrants and deliver most of the work on the ground. 

Andrew Eldred, deputy CEO of ECA, said: “The report rightly highlights the essential role played by SMEs in delivering clean energy and retrofit work, and the need for Government to support them to take on and train new entrants.

“Employers cannot bridge the workforce gap alone. Without targeted measures to help SMEs invest in apprenticeships and structured on-the-job training, it will be challenging to scale up the workforce at the pace and quality required.”

However, he does point out that recognition of the way recent Government-imposed increases in employment costs are missing.

It is having a depressing effect on businesses' – especially SMEs' – appetite to take on apprentices and trainees.

The Apprentice Minimum Wage has doubled since COVID, far ahead of any growth in the returns businesses can expect from the work apprentices do, especially in the first two years. 

Consequently, electrical apprentice recruitment dropped in 2024/25, and is expected to fall even further next year, just at the very time achievement of Government housing and clean energy targets depends on apprentice starts rising sharply.

He notes: “For businesses to afford to recruit and train again, the benefits and costs of doing so must be brought back into balance. For many SMEs, it now takes a year longer to see any return on their investment. "