Everyday across the country, people in the electrotechnical sector are driving us towards net zero. Trailblazers lighting the way, helping us transition to renewable energy. Innovating new technologies, changing business practices, creating forward thinking partnerships.
These are the people Leading the Charge.
Luke Osborne, Energy and Emerging Technology Solutions Advisor for ECA knows what needs to be done, “I think we’re all aware. We need to decarbonise rapidly because we have a huge problem when it comes to climate change. We’ve got a massive amount of change that is going to be needed.”
This is a huge opportunity for the sector, net zero technology such as solar PV, electric vehicle charging, heat pumps and battery energy storage, all require electrotechnical skills to install and maintain. Then there’s the data analysis and management to improve efficiency and reduce the power demands.
But there are challenges standing in the way of our cleaner future. There is a skills gap in the sector,
“We’ve got a problem, a looming problem now, huge skills shortage, an ageing workforce” Ruth Devine, MD of SJD, Chair of TESP explains, “In the next 5-10 years around 20% of the workforce are over the age of 50 planning to retire. We have lost older individuals following the pandemic. We we’ve lost the number of individuals that came over from other countries. So, industry needs around 11,000 entrants per year to meet the forecast demand. Currently we’re recruiting around 7000 apprentices per year.”
A huge uplift in new recruits is required and it is this new generation who will both implement and benefit from these innovations.
“Net zero for the electrical industry is fantastic. We need this new generation of young minds to help us get a grip of this. And it’s only this generation that’s going to do it,” Clint Cottee, Managing Director of M.A. Broughton.
And there is still confidence that the electrotechnical sector will deliver in advance of 2050.
“We do need more people involved to do it, but we’ve had such a change of mindset in the population and in industry and in government over the past five years. We don’t have a choice not to do it. That’s really not an option. So yeah, I’m positive we’re going to get where we need to be. This is the time for change. So people need to pivot now.”
Albert Certified
CWP worked with Albert, the leading production sustainability organisation, to minimise the climate impact of Leading the Charge. Albert has independently evaluated our sustainability actions and has certified Leading the Charge, awarding it three out of three stars.
