Training


The skills shortage is here. What’s being done about it?


Cathie Foster, head of marketing at JTL, discusses the skills shortage within the electrical industry and what it means for the future of the industry.


I


t’s no longer a cautionary tale. The skills shortage among industry practitioners is here, and the forecast tells us this shortage will only worsen.


Back in 2021, the Homeserve Foundation reported that, with one-fifth of construction and electrical workers expected to retire before 2030, a staggering 300,000 qualified trade apprentices were needed by 2030 to keep up with demand. These concerning statistics paint the picture of the reality of the skills shortage, and the industry must act now in order to avoid the situation worsening.


What has been done about it since? The government has clearly taken notice of the stark reality of an under-trained workforce coming out of the UK. New financial incentives were offered to employers to encourage taking on new apprentices alongside an additional budget allocated to helping support traineeships, an initiative for younger learners that JTL champions. Similarly, the Education and Funding Skills Agency (ESFA) published their new updated requirements for apprenticeship funding. The report advises relaxing the process and offers suggested changes to some of the more controversial apprenticeship practices, such as removing some of the mandatory tests. Taking on an apprentice brings new advantages


to an employer. These begin with a trusted apprenticeship provider, such as JTL, matching you with a learner who has been thoroughly considered for the needs of your business. The learner brings with them the most up-to-date training practices to better improve the efficiency of your business, whilst you also receive financial support.


JTL apprentices benefit from a committed, designated training officer to support them and become the bridge of contact for your business and JTL. Our learners are also provided with a complimentary, industry-standard toolkit during the early stages of their apprenticeships.


Why is the skills gap widening? The essential factor behind the skills shortage has been the lack of apprenticeships undertaken in recent years. Though immensely popular during the 1960s when Britain’s manufacturing industries were on the rise, the sharp drop-off in that sector’s demand has seen fewer apprenticeship opportunities available.


As a result, apprenticeships lost popularity whilst University admissions soared. This was not helped by the lack of exposure students have to apprenticeships, despite the introduction of the government’s ‘Baker Clause’, an initiative that aims to ensure schools provide students with access to information regarding apprenticeships.


“Education is at the root of the skill shortage matter, and there needs to be a further push for awareness within schools. We have evidence that grassroots campaigns and drives can work.”


What can be done?


Education is at the root of the skill shortage matter, and there needs to be a further push for awareness within schools. We have evidence that grassroots campaigns and drives can work, as at JTL our learner base has only grown over the years, despite contradicting national trends. At JTL, we’re directly tackling education, but not just at the school level. We wish to educate employers and the wider industry about the true value of apprenticeships so they can see the potential in taking on their own learners. Apprenticeship training for 16-18 year olds is fully government-funded, with an employer paying nothing towards the cost of employing a learner. That training is delivered by apprenticeship providers such as JTL and matches employers with a hand-picked employee for their company. As simple as it sounds, a gap in the skilled workforce can only be filled by newly skilled workers. Regardless of whether that comes from upskilling, reskilling or just first-time training, it is training itself that will provide us with a highly- trained workforce of the future.


24 | electrical wholesaler August 2022 ewnews.co.uk


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