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Recent economic developments show that the very real threat of climate change is now being taken seriously by policymakers. An ECA survey asks whether the UK’s workforce has the necessary skills to make Net Zero Carbon a reality.


the electrical and wider engineering service sector’s delivery of ‘active’ technologies and skills to help attain the UK’s Net Zero Carbon 2050 target. ‘Active’ technologies include the full range of equipment and systems that provide ‘low to no carbon’ energy solutions. They include solar and wind energy, heat pumps, EV charging, energy storage, and other smart, monitoring and wireless systems. They are distinct from ‘passive’ energy solutions such as insulation.


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To this end, ECA recently partnered with TESP, BESA, the Renewable Energy Association and Solar Energy UK (formerly the Solar Trade Association) to produce the Skills4Climate industry report, examining ways to ensure our sector has the required skills base. The report gives voice to the views and experiences of nearly 150 electrotechnical businesses, ranging from microbusinesses to those with over 500 employees, and the results are already helping to map the way forward for our sector.


The drive to net zero There was overwhelming survey


support for a ‘low to no carbon’ UK economic recovery following the pandemic, but the survey also showed a quarter (25 per cent) of respondents would struggle to find workers with the necessary ‘green’ skills to help deliver it. Andrew Eldred, ECA’s Director of Employment & Skills, said of the Skills4Climate report, “Despite a powerful consensus in favour of transition to a low carbon economy, skills policy and delivery in this area remains sub-optimal, with insufficient engineering services sector input and buy-in”.


Renewable energy, heat pumps, electric vehicle charging, smart systems and energy storage all require specialist design and installation skills, and almost half of respondents (48 per cent) added there is ‘insufficient training’ to enable installers to deliver all these low carbon technologies.


Yet with a suitably skilled workforce, many more engineering services businesses can pivot successfully into these technologies, as is already happening in the growing arena of EV charging. Other low carbon technologies, such are heat pumps, are being lined up.


Survey respondents pointed to too many disjointed training offerings and standalone short courses, causing confusion, mismatched standards and undermining sector confidence in what to do next. To make significant progress in on low carbon skills, Government, industry and education providers need to work together to deliver a joined-up nationwide training programme. Andrew Eldred adds “A more inclusive and strategic approach is required to encourage more engineering services employers to upskill their current workforce to deliver a low carbon revolution, and to recruit and train the next cohort of school leavers for secure and meaningful careers for the future.”


Time to reskill? ECA is a member body of the


recently formed engineering services alliance Actuate UK, which is now considering the Skills4Carbon report. Supporting the Actuate UK launch event in February, David Pinder, Chair of the CLC Green Construction Board told launch attendees “I’m pleased to see Actuate UK concentrating not just on new zero carbon, but also on skills development. I believe that delivering on net zero will rely more on developing essential green skills than on further developing the technology, and progress must include both new and re-skilling.” So, it seems everyone agrees that low carbon installation needs a suitably trained and competent workforce, with practically useful and properly scoped training for new sector entrants, notably in the form of apprenticeships, and optimised upskilling activity for the larger cohorts of existing installers. Arguably, despite all the many challenges facing electrical and other engineering services business and society in general, there has never been a more exciting time to be a part of the electrotechnical industry, nor a time that requires such urgency to develop the necessary skills to help decarbonise the UK.


vidence shows we have little time to mitigate the ongoing impacts of global warming. ECA is focused on supporting


INDUSTRY COMMENT Crossing the gap to Net Zero


Luke Osborne, ECA Energy and Emerging Technologies Soluons Advisor


For more on ECA’s Net Zero policy position, and a series of video shorts outlining why the electrotechnical and engineering services sector needs to build the right skills for the future, visit


www.eca.co.uk/getzerocarbondone.


For more on how umbrella alliance Actuate UK will engage with net zero carbon and low to no carbon skills go to: www.actuateuk.org.uk/


Founded in 1901, the ECA was established to represent the interests of contractors who designed, installed, inspected, tested and maintained electrical and electronic equipment and services. The ECA was officially incorporated on the 19th April 1916.The ECA played a particularly important part in the 1920s and 1930s when electric power was introduced to most houses. Before this time, and the formation of the National Grid, electricity was supplied at different voltages and frequencies. ECA is committed to maintaining a positive image for building activity and improving working practices right across the building services engineering supply chain. As part of these efforts to promote best practice throughout the industry, ECA is an official supporter of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, the social responsibility construction body.


10 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER APRIL 2021 Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk


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