Survey highlights lack of skilled electrical apprentices 

Electrotechnical and engineering services businesses are facing a persistent skills gap, according to a new survey.

The findings are published in the quarterly Building Engineering Business Survey, which is conducted by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) in partnership with the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Select and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF).

Across the 125 businesses surveyed, almost half (46%) are currently looking to fill vacancies in their organisations. Of those respondents, 47% said that candidate pay expectations are too high, and 46% said applicants consistently lack sufficient knowledge or skills for the job.

One respondent commented: “Potential electrical apprentices are encouraged to stay on at school. Youngsters coming into the industry struggle to cope with the academics of the electrical courses, and consequently leave.”

Another said: “One of the biggest problems is that applicants are not as skilled as they think they are. In some cases, they are nowhere near where they should be.”

In light of the findings, ECA has welcomed recent comments from education secretary Bridget Phillipson encouraging more young people to consider apprenticeships as a viable alternative to university.

Writing in The Sun, Phillipson said: “This country needs graduates. But to get Britain moving again, we also need skilled technicians – brickies, electricians, IT engineers, plumbers, builders, carpenters, mechanics, welders, roofers.”

She added that apprenticeships and other technical courses offer routes to success, which are often ignored in favour of university courses. 

Andrew Eldred, ECA’s chief operating officer, said: “ECA welcomes the education secretary’s ambition to see more young people qualify as electricians. 

“For her statements to have any sort of impact, her government must work closely with industry leaders, educators and business owners – to listen to electricians themselves about what to do to make this happen.”

As part of its skills strategy, the new government has launched Skills England, which is aimed at boosting apprenticeships and skills training across the country. 

Earlier this month, ECA launched the Electrical Skills Index, which illustrates the national shortage of electricians in England.

Eldred added: “Of the parts of England where electrical apprentice starts are too low, the vast majority are now represented by Labour MPs. 

“Key Labour government missions, such as new housing and net zero, will not succeed without taking steps to address these shortfalls at both national and local levels.”