• • • EDITOR’S COMMENT • • • WELCOME


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fter the challenges of 2022, which included shortages of components and skilled staff, I hope 2023 will be a better year for the industry. There is no doubt that a skilled engineering workforce is vital to the UK’s net zero ambition, but what


are those skills and where are they needed? And, more importantly, how many more engineers and technicians will the industry need to thrive? Engineering and technology are and will continue to be fundamental to decarbonising transportation,


power, energy, industry and the build environment. As I have said many times in this column over the last 18n months, much more needs to be done to


encourage and enable young people across the UK to take up STEM-based qualifications with a view of tackling the climate crisis. Re-skilling and upskilling the existing workforce needs to happen in parallel to bringing in new talent. The Electrical Contractors’ Association said its members know the value of a strong local skills-base. Even


among larger businesses, with a regional and/or national spread of work, it is not unusual to find strong connections persisting within a particular area, firmly rooted in the people they employ. ECA said: “While apprenticeship standards are set nationally, they are delivered locally. For this reason,


ECA regions and branches have a strong and active interest in the availability and quality of local apprenticeship provision. “But employer interest in education doesn’t – and shouldn’t – begin and end just with apprenticeships.” CPD and upskilling training for qualified electricians has always been important. With increased


regulatory demand, it is even more so. One of the changes I’d like to see in 2023 would be for regulation of the electrical industry to finally


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become a reality. Protection of title for electricians is essential if we’re to have a competent, multi-skilled workforce, working safely on the next generation of technology and keeping consumers safe.


Simon King Managing Editor


Managing Editor Simon King


Tel: 07973 386724 simonkingmedia@live.co.uk


Advertisement Manager Jack Wells


Tel: 01622 699171 JWells@datateam.co.uk 4 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023


Media Director Louise Tiller


Tel: 01622 699 104 ltiller@datateam.co.uk electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


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