In response to the Government’s announced skills programme to deliver 1.5 million homes, Andrew Eldred, COO of the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), issues the following remarks:
“We’re pleased to see the Government taking significant steps to address the construction skills crisis, which remains one of the biggest blockers to building homes, upgrading infrastructure and delivering net zero. Today’s announcement recognises the scale of the challenge and the vital role that electricians and the electrical sector will play in meeting it.
“Funding for new Technical Excellence Colleges and construction training is a positive step, but this must be matched by a sharper focus on quality and relevance. Too often, existing electrical training provision produces classroom-based learners without the practical experience or competence employers need. We must prioritise pathways that lead to becoming a qualified, competent electricians – via apprenticeship, NVQ or Experienced Worker Assessment.
“Government’s ambition to offer placements to all Level 2 and 3 learners is laudable, but risks being unworkable without a more targeted, locally brokered approach. SMEs simply don’t have the capacity to absorb tens of thousands of placements unless those learners are genuinely committed to a career in the sector.
This investment must now be paired with strategic reform: better industry involvement in training design, smarter use of the Growth and Skills Levy, and firm guarantees that these reforms will deliver for electrical and other construction trades – not just in volume, but in quality. The Electrical Contractors’ Association stands ready to support the Government with this next phase of this work.”
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