Electricians are the most trusted advisers in the UK when it comes to clean energy technologies like solar panels, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers, according to new YouGov polling commissioned by ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association), in collaboration with electrical certification body, Certsure.
The findings, published today as part of ECA’s new Blueprint for Electrification: Delivering the UK’s Transition to Clean Power report, show:
– Almost a quarter (24%) of UK adults say they would trust a qualified electrician more than any other source – including authorities – to advise on which clean technologies to choose.
– Particularly high trust among the youngest respondents (18-24: 35%)
– Strongest in the East Midlands (28%) and Northern Ireland (30%).
– Government agencies, such as Ofgem, are the second-most trusted at 18%, with the strongest trust among slightly older respondents (45-54: 21%) and social grade ABC1 (20%).
ECA’s Blueprint outlines 10 actionable recommendations for the UK government, calling for electricians to be placed at the heart of net zero strategies to accelerate electrification in homes, businesses, and communities.
Andrew Eldred, Deputy CEO of ECA, comments, “Electricians are on the frontline of the UK’s shift to cleaner energy – not just installing new technologies like heat pumps and solar panels, but guiding households through the process. This polling shows they are the public’s most trusted advisers, yet their insight remains an untapped source in national net zero planning. Policymakers should harness that trust and expertise into national strategies if we want to make the transition faster, fairer, and more effective.”
ECA polling also highlights significant barriers facing households in making their homes greener:
– Upfront cost remains the biggest obstacle, cited by 40% of adults as their primary reason for not adopting clean technologies.
– Higher concern among older age groups (45-54: 48%, 55+: 40%) and those in lower social grades (ABC1: 42%).
– Most significant in the Midlands (46%), North East (51%), and particularly in Northern Ireland (57%).
– Housing tenure presents a major barrier for renters, with 43% of private renters highlighting their rental status as preventing adoption.
– Lack of trustworthy advice is an issue for 6% of the population, rising to 9% among younger adults (25–34).
Despite these challenges, electricians consistently top public trust rankings, demonstrating their crucial role in the UK’s energy transition. However, government initiatives often overlook electricians in public campaigns and policy decisions.
Jeremy Parkin, an electrician from South Wales with over 35 years of experience, notes, “Every day I see how confusing the shift to greener homes can be for people. People want clear advice from someone who knows the practicalities, costs, and what technology suits their homes.
“Electricians like me are often the first point of call – we’re trusted, we’re local, and we understand these technologies from first-hand experience. If our trusted role could be properly integrated into national policy, we could help thousands more households transition to greener homes faster, more easily, and with greater confidence.”
ECA calls for public trust to be matched by policy action
To ensure electricians can fully play their role as trusted advisers at the frontline of the UK’s energy transition, ECA is calling on policymakers to urgently establish a national electrification taskforce.
A dedicated electrification taskforce would:
– Coordinate cross-departmental policy and planning, ensuring electricians’ trusted role is embedded in national net zero strategies.
– Help overcome the current fragmented approach, unlocking faster adoption of clean technologies such as heat pumps, solar panels, and EV charging infrastructure.
– Directly harness the high level of public trust electricians command, providing households with accessible, reliable, and actionable advice.
The Blueprint for Electrification also includes further recommendations, drawing on data from ECA’s Electrical Skills Index, extensive industry consultations, and new YouGov polling, calling for:
– Long-term policy certainty, to unlock sustained investment and effective planning.
– Skills reform, including better-funded apprenticeship pathways to address workforce gaps.
– Targeted incentives to boost the number of qualified electricians entering the sector.
– Resilient supply chains to ensure reliable and affordable access to essential low carbon technology.
– Simplified and consistently enforced building regulations to streamline installations.
– Electricity pricing reform, rebalancing levies to encourage adoption of electrified solutions.
– Faster planning and improved grid connections, reducing delays in delivering critical infrastructure.
– Fairer procurement and payment practices to support SMEs within the electrical contracting sector.
– Improved public awareness, leveraging national campaigns to educate and empower households through trusted electrical professionals.
Commenting on the launch of the Blueprint, Jason Poulter, National Officer for Construction at Unite, says, “Unite the Union is fully supportive of ECA’s Blueprint for Electrification. Competent qualified electricians are key for the construction, retrofit, repair and maintenance of infrastructure, industry, commerce, housing, clean heat, and sustainable energy across the total construction and built environment process. Unite look forward to working further with ECA in securing the very best in electrical skills for society.”
To read the Blueprint for Electrification report in full, click here.
For more from ECA, click here.
